plate no. 0038

Texas Landscape

Robert Julian Onderdonk

oilImpressionismlandscapetreesskylandscaperoadgrassfence

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the large tree, road, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of blue, adding hints of violet and white for variation.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and foliage using a mix of greens, yellows, and browns.
step 04
Define the road with a base of light ochre, adding shadows with mixes of purple and brown.
step 05
Add details to the tree, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the fence and distant buildings, simplifying their forms and values.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details in the foreground and subtle color variations in the sky.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue, and create shadows by adding burnt umber and alizarin crimson to your base colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing on the palette.