plate no. 8273

The red painted house

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapehousetreeslandscapeskycloudspath

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing broken color techniques and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: house, trees, path, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and purples, varying the tones.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the house: reds, browns, and oranges.
step 04
Paint the path with a mix of browns, grays, and hints of pink.
step 05
Add the trees using thin, broken brushstrokes of browns and blues.
step 06
Develop the foliage with greens, yellows, and browns, using short, choppy strokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the house, adding windows and architectural features.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian green

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky. Combine burnt sienna and cadmium red for the house, adding white for highlights. Use yellow ochre and viridian green for the foliage, adjusting with white and burnt sienna.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Neglecting to vary the brushstrokes, creating a flat texture.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, leading to a lack of depth.
→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits