plate no. 3052

Tree of Nice

oilPrecisionismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyfoliagevegetationsea

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using simplified shapes to represent complex forms. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective with color and value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees, horizon line, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, creating a gradient from darker at the top to lighter near the horizon.
step 03
Paint the distant sea with a darker blue, slightly desaturated.
step 04
Establish the base colors of the foreground: red-brown for the ground and dark gray-green for the trees and foliage.
step 05
Begin layering darker values on the trees to create shadows and define their forms.
step 06
Add highlights to the foreground and foliage with slightly lighter and warmer colors.
step 07
Refine the details of the foliage and add texture using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre

Achieve the dark greens by mixing black and yellow ochre. Create the red-brown foreground by blending burnt sienna with black and a touch of blue. Use white to lighten the blues for the sky and sea.

techniques