plate no. 7730

The poacher in a forest landscape

oilRealismlandscapetreesforestfigurewaterfallfoliagelandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in a landscape setting. It also provides practice in rendering foliage and water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, figure, and waterfall.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and foliage with broad strokes, using darker greens and browns.
step 04
Layer lighter greens and yellows on top to create highlights and variations in the foliage.
step 05
Paint the tree trunks, paying attention to the texture and variations in color.
step 06
Add details to the figure, focusing on accurate proportions and clothing folds.
step 07
Render the waterfall with dynamic brushstrokes, using white and light blue to capture the movement of the water.
step 08
Add final details to the foreground foliage and shadows to create depth.

color palette

primary · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of green by combining sap green, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. Use titanium white to lighten the greens and blues for highlights and atmospheric perspective. Create browns by mixing burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques

·layering
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the foliage, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Failing to create sufficient contrast between light and shadow.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, making the background appear too sharp.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·acrylic or oil paints
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush
·#2 filbert brush
·palette
·linseed oil (if using oils)
·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium
·easel

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.

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