plate no. 6370

Summer Landscape

Henri Catargi, 1966

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesfenceskyroadvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for natural landscapes and how to create depth using atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the fence, trees, and road.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of muted green-gray.
step 03
Establish the main masses of the trees with darker greens and browns.
step 04
Add the fence using off-white, paying attention to the perspective.
step 05
Paint the road with a mix of yellows, greens, and browns, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the trees and road to create a sense of light.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and vegetation with smaller brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow light · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining sap green, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Achieve the sky color by mixing titanium white, cerulean blue, and a touch of raw umber. Use burnt sienna to warm up the greens and browns.

techniques