plate no. 2972
Synthetic Blue St. John
Neil Welliver, 2000
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, river, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky and river with diluted washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the background foliage and ground.
- step 04
Begin layering darker tones to define the tree trunks and branches, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 05
Add details to the foliage using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the highlights on the water and trees to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Add the birch tree details.
- step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to achieve a harmonious composition.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · sap green · black
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Vary the intensity of the blues by adding white or umber. Create browns by mixing umber with small amounts of blue or yellow.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Not creating enough depth in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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