plate no. 3495

Tree and figure

oil, cardboardNaturalismlandscapetreeslandscapefigurefoliagegroundforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to depict light and shadow on organic forms. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the tree trunk, ground, and foliage.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted burnt umber.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker tones of the tree trunk, paying attention to the shadows and crevices.
step 04
Add the mid-tones and highlights to the tree trunk, blending the colors to create a sense of form.
step 05
Paint the foliage using a variety of greens, yellows, and browns, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Add the figure in the background, keeping it simple and understated.
step 07
Refine the details of the ground and foliage, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the focal point is the tree trunk.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber with raw sienna and white. Achieve greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·layering
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the foliage and tree trunk.