plate no. 2755

The Artist's House through the Trees (also known as Autumn Afternoon)

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapehousetreeslandscapefoliageskygrass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand impressionistic brushwork and how to mix colors to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and color blocks.

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 house, trees, and ground, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, leaving gaps for foliage.
step 03
Apply a base layer of yellow and green to the foliage, varying the shades.
step 04
Add darker greens and browns to the shadows under the trees and around the house.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to build up the texture of the grass and foliage.
step 06
Mix white with yellow and green to highlight areas where the sun hits the leaves.
step 07
Add details to the house, such as windows and the roof, using a small brush.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting values and adding final touches to the brushwork.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · cerulean blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix burnt sienna with ultramarine for darker shadows.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Not simplifying the forms enough and getting bogged down in details.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, cerulean blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife