plate no. 1601

Three Cypress Trees

Alexis Gritchenko, 1956

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesmountainsskyfieldsclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and layering colors to create depth and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, trees, and fields.
step 02
Block in the sky with light, muted tones, suggesting the clouds and light shafts.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the mountains using a mix of blues, browns, and blacks.
step 04
Begin layering colors in the fields, using browns, greens, and touches of red to create the patchwork effect.
step 05
Paint the cypress trees with bold, vertical strokes, using dark greens and browns.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the fields and mountains to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the sky and clouds, adding texture and movement with expressive brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the trees and fields to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix blues and browns to create the dark tones of the mountains. Use white to lighten the sky and add highlights. Mix greens with browns and yellows for the fields.

techniques