plate no. 8031

Tamaracks

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapetreesskylandscapefoliagelakeforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint with visible brushstrokes and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It's also a good exercise in color mixing and creating a sense of depth through color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, horizon line, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, leaving some areas for clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant lake with a darker blue, keeping the edges soft.
step 04
Start layering the foliage with oranges, yellows, and browns, using short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the tree trunks with darker browns and blacks, varying the thickness of the lines.
step 06
Paint the foreground with a mix of greens, browns, and reds, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the foliage and foreground to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium orange · sap green · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of orange by combining yellow ochre, cadmium orange, and burnt umber. Create lighter blues by mixing cerulean blue with titanium white. Achieve a range of browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and a touch of ultramarine blue.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variation.
→Not simplifying the shapes enough, leading to a cluttered composition.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a palette knife for applying thicker layers of paint.

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