plate no. 2235

The Butte de Warlencourt

William Orpen, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapehillskycloudsgrassfield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, and in using brushstrokes to suggest texture and form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hill, sky, and foreground, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue, gray, and pink, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Establish the base color of the hill, using a mix of white, yellow, and a touch of brown.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the hill to define its form, using cooler tones for shadows and warmer tones for highlights.
step 05
Paint the foreground with a mix of greens, yellows, and browns, varying the brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as grasses and small plants, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the edges of the hill and foreground, softening them to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the small cross on top of the hill and subtle variations in the sky.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix the sky colors by blending blue and white with small amounts of red to create the pinkish hues. Achieve the hill's color by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use green, yellow ochre and burnt umber for the foreground.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·color layering
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground, losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Making the hill too bright or too dark, disrupting the value balance of the painting.
→Using too much pure color without mixing, resulting in a flat and unrealistic appearance.
→Not blending the sky colors sufficiently, creating harsh transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·easel
·rags

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color and simplify the painting process.

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