plate no. 1220
Tree
Theo van Doesburg, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand geometric abstraction and color blocking. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes within a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes of the tree, buildings, and sky.
- step 02
Divide the tree into diamond shapes, ensuring consistent size and spacing.
- step 03
Block in the background buildings and sky with light washes of color.
- step 04
Apply the base green color to each diamond shape of the tree.
- step 05
Add darker shades of green to the lower portions of each diamond to create depth.
- step 06
Paint the small red triangles at the apex of each diamond.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the geometric shapes and add subtle color variations.
- step 08
Add the tree trunk and any final details.
color palette
primary · green · brown · blue
secondary · red · ochre · gray
Achieve the various shades of green by mixing primary green with browns and blues. Create subtle variations in the background by mixing ochre with white and small amounts of blue or brown.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·value shading
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Making the diamond shapes too uniform and losing the organic feel of a tree.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and overpowering the subtle tones.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes within each shape.
- →Ignoring the background and making it too detailed, distracting from the tree.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints (green, brown, blue, red, ochre, white)
- ·assorted flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·ruler
Using a limited palette will help maintain color harmony. Consider using a slightly textured canvas to add visual interest.
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