plate no. 4028

Summer Landscape (Summertime)

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapefieldskyfoliagestone wall

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: trees, stone wall, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of blues and whites, allowing for variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the large areas of green in the field, using different shades to suggest depth and form.
step 04
Paint the trees, focusing on capturing the light and shadow on the foliage with broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the stone wall, paying attention to the varied colors and textures of the stones.
step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · sap green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows with white for lighter tones. Use burnt umber to darken greens and create shadows. Achieve the sky's subtle variations by mixing blue and white with small amounts of yellow ochre.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·layering
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can flatten the image.
→Using too much paint, which can obscure the texture.
→Failing to create a sense of depth by not varying the colors and values.
→Not paying attention to the light and shadow, which can make the painting look flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (sap green, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife