plate no. 7815
Trees
Ivan Marchuk, 2011
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering, creating texture with dry brush techniques, and understanding atmospheric perspective with a limited color palette. It also encourages careful observation of intricate details in nature.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of trees and the building.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of light neutral color, representing the building's walls.
- step 03
Begin layering the trees, starting with the darker tones and gradually adding lighter highlights.
- step 04
Use dry brush techniques to create the texture of the tree bark and branches.
- step 05
Paint the grass in the foreground, varying the tones and textures to create depth.
- step 06
Add the finer details, such as the small branches and twigs.
- step 07
Refine the values and contrasts to enhance the overall composition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · payne's gray
Mix raw umber and white for the lighter tones of the building and grass. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the darker tones of the trees. Add a touch of yellow ochre to warm up the browns.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value control
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of depth.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to vary the tones and textures in the grass and trees.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grit canvas will provide a good surface for the dry brush techniques.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
