plate no. 0347

Tree

Seraphine Louis, 1930

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)flower paintingtreefoliageleavestrunksky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shape of the tree trunk and overall foliage structure.
step 02
Block in the background with a base layer of blue.
step 03
Apply a base layer of brown to the tree trunk.
step 04
Begin layering greens and yellows onto the foliage, using short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights to the leaves with lighter shades of green and yellow.
step 06
Introduce darker shades of green and brown to create depth and shadow.
step 07
Refine the details of the leaves and trunk, paying attention to the texture.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Sap Green · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Umber

secondary · Cadmium Yellow · Crimson

Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue and Yellow Ochre. Create variations in the greens by adding white or small amounts of Crimson. Achieve the trunk color by mixing Burnt Umber with Yellow Ochre and small touches of Crimson.

techniques

·Layering
·Dry brushing
·Impasto
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a flat texture.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints (Prussian Blue, Sap Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Yellow, Crimson, Titanium White)
·Assorted paintbrushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil or acrylic medium
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on medium)