plate no. 5817

The Last Days of Summer

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1922

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesskycloudslandscapegrasswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to depict light and shadow in a landscape. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, horizon line, and cloud formations.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding white for clouds and darker blues for depth.
step 03
Establish the base color of the grass with a mix of green and yellow, varying the tones for highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the trees, starting with the trunks and then adding the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes of yellow, orange, and brown.
step 05
Add the distant trees and water, using muted colors to create a sense of distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees and grass, adding highlights and shadows to create texture and depth.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values throughout the painting to create a harmonious and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · raw umber · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve cloud variations by adding small amounts of burnt sienna to white. Use white to lighten the blues and greens for highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overblending, which can flatten the texture.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can detract from the focal point.
→Not varying the colors enough, which can make the painting look monotonous.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow, which can make the painting look flat.