plate no. 3153

The cherry tree

oilAcademicismgenre paintingfiguretreescherriesbasketfoliageclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic skin tones, drapery, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also offers practice in capturing the human figure in a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color harmony.
step 03
Establish the basic values and colors of the figure, starting with the skin tones.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to folds and highlights.
step 05
Paint the cherry tree and basket, adding details to the cherries and leaves.
step 06
Refine the background foliage, creating depth with variations in color and value.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and foreground.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, and adjust with umber for muted tones.

techniques