plate no. 7781
Terre Sauvage
A.Y. Jackson, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex natural forms into expressive shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the main tree groups.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of dark blues and grays, leaving space for the clouds.
- step 03
Add the cloud shapes using lighter shades of gray, white, and yellow, blending edges for a soft effect.
- step 04
Paint the distant hills and trees with muted greens and blues to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Establish the foreground with earth tones, varying the colors to suggest texture and form.
- step 06
Paint the main trees, using darker greens and browns for the trunks and branches, and lighter greens for the foliage.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as rocks and small plants, using dry brush techniques.
- step 08
Finally, add the rainbow with thin strokes of blended colors.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White · Sap Green
secondary · Burnt Sienna · Cadmium Yellow · Alizarin Crimson
Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue and Yellow Ochre. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant elements. Use Burnt Sienna and Prussian Blue to create dark browns and grays.
techniques
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Layering
- ·Blending
- ·Impasto
- ·Atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground, losing the overall sense of depth.
- →Making the colors too saturated, resulting in a flat and unrealistic appearance.
- →Not blending the edges of the clouds and trees sufficiently, creating harsh lines.
- →Failing to establish a strong value contrast, making the painting appear muddy.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Sap Green, Burnt Sienna)
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 8)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 10)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Retarder
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to achieve color harmony.
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