
plate no. 1499
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in using visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.
technical profile
approach — 8 steps
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the hills, buildings, and path, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light gray, leaving some areas lighter to suggest clouds.
Establish the dark masses of the hills using a mix of browns and blacks, varying the tones slightly to create depth.
Paint the fields with a warm ochre color, using horizontal brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the grass.
Add the path using a lighter, cooler tone of beige, and indicate the edges with darker browns and greens.
Block in the buildings with simple shapes of red-brown and white, adding minimal detail.
Add the dark green foliage along the path and around the buildings, using short, broken brushstrokes.
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · sap green · payne's gray · cadmium red
Mix browns by combining burnt umber with small amounts of red or black. Create lighter tones by adding white to the primary colors. Achieve the greens by mixing yellow ochre and sap green.
techniques
common pitfalls
surface · stretched canvas
required
optional
Use a medium-grit canvas for a slightly textured surface. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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