plate no. 2210

Summer Forest

Aleksander Belyaev, 2016

oil, canvasRealismlandscapetreesforestgrassfoliagelandscapetwigs

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures of foliage and tree bark.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted paint, creating the dark background and lighter foreground.
step 03
Begin layering the foliage with darker greens and blues, gradually adding lighter highlights to create depth.
step 04
Paint the tree trunks, paying attention to the variations in color and texture of the bark.
step 05
Add the details of the grass in the foreground, using a variety of yellows, browns, and greens.
step 06
Create the atmospheric effect by softening edges and adding subtle glazes of blue and purple in the distance.
step 07
Refine the details of the foliage and grass, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · payne's gray

Achieve the subtle greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Create the atmospheric blues by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white and a touch of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the background, which can flatten the sense of depth.
→Using too much pure color without mixing, which can make the painting look unnatural.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast, which can result in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Not softening the edges of distant objects, which can disrupt the atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (viridian green, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette