plate no. 2445

Sunken Lane

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapelandscapetreespathfoliageskyfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to represent light and shadow in a landscape. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and diminishing size.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the path and major tree shapes.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the shadows of the trees and foliage.
step 04
Mix various shades of green and brown to represent the foliage, using short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the path with a mix of browns, oranges, and yellows, varying the color to create depth.
step 06
Add the figure in the distance, keeping it simple and using muted colors.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · viridian

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and browns by combining reds, yellows, and blues. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix a variety of earth tones for the path and foliage.

techniques