plate no. 8435

The Fence at Marnat

Émilie Charmy, 1915

oilExpressionismlandscapefencetreeshouselandscapeskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and form. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve a harmonious and slightly muted palette.

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: the fence, the house, the trees, and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the foliage, the roof, and the ground.
step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
step 04
Introduce lighter values to highlight areas and create contrast.
step 05
Refine the shapes of the fence posts and the house, paying attention to their angles and proportions.
step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Mix and apply the subtle color variations within each area to create visual interest.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Red · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White

secondary · Sap Green · Burnt Umber

Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue and Yellow Ochre. Achieve the roof color by mixing Cadmium Red with a touch of Burnt Umber. Muted tones are created by adding small amounts of complementary colors.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken color
·Scumbling
·Simplification of form

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating overly saturated colors that clash with the overall muted palette.
→Failing to simplify the scene and including too much unnecessary detail.
→Not paying attention to the angles and proportions of the fence posts and the house.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Sap Green, Burnt Umber)
·Round brushes (sizes 4, 6, 8)
·Palette knife
·Palette
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil

optional

·Retarder medium
·Easel
·Apron

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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