plate no. 0309

The Staircase Under the Trees

oilRomanticismlandscapetreesstairswaterfoliagearchitecturegarden

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how light interacts with different surfaces like foliage and water. It also provides practice in rendering complex organic forms such as trees.

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 tree, stairs, and water.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the sky and background foliage with broad strokes, paying attention to color variations.
step 04
Begin building up the layers of color on the tree trunk, using a variety of browns, greens, and yellows.
step 05
Add details to the stairs and water, focusing on the reflections and highlights.
step 06
Refine the foliage and add smaller details like leaves and flowers.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber and white to create the base for the tree trunk, then layer with yellows and greens for highlights.

techniques