plate no. 9413

The white gum

Hans Heysen, 1923

oilRealismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyfoliagegroundhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering tree bark texture and foliage with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main tree trunks and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, leaving some areas lighter for clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant hills with a diluted mix of browns and blues to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Begin layering washes of browns and greens for the ground, varying the intensity to create depth.
step 05
Paint the tree trunks with a light grey wash, adding darker shadows with a mix of brown and blue.
step 06
Add foliage using small, broken brushstrokes of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 07
Define the details of the tree bark with dry brush strokes of darker browns and greys.
step 08
Add final highlights to the trees and ground to create contrast and interest.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

Mix ultramarine and burnt umber for the darker tree shadows and distant hills. Use raw sienna and yellow ochre for the warmer tones in the ground and foliage. Add white to lighten the sky and tree trunks.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and unrealistic.
→Not creating enough depth in the landscape.
→Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed excessively.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brush
·palette
·water container
·paper towels

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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