plate no. 3900
Swiss landscape with horses
Aleksey Savrasov, 1867
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as rendering reflections in water.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, water, and mountains.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees, using a mix of browns, greens, and blacks.
- step 04
Paint the distant mountains with muted blues and grays to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Add the base colors for the water and foreground vegetation.
- step 06
Develop the details of the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 07
Render the reflections in the water, paying attention to the distortion and color variations.
- step 08
Add final details such as the horses and highlights on the vegetation.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant elements.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering reflections
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the trees, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
- →Making the reflections in the water too literal and not distorted enough.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#4, #8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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