plate no. 0884
Trees by the Gein at Moonrise
Piet Mondrian, 1908
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing with a limited palette and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective using color and value.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, tree placement, and water reflection.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of red, gradually adding darker tones towards the top.
- step 03
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, mirroring the sky's color and value.
- step 04
Add the landmass with a darker shade of red, creating a distinct separation from the water.
- step 05
Paint the trees with bold, visible brushstrokes, using a mix of dark red and brown.
- step 06
Create the reflections of the trees in the water, using similar colors and brushstrokes but with a slightly blurred effect.
- step 07
Add the sun using a bright yellow-orange, blending it softly into the surrounding sky.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · brown
secondary · orange · dark brown
Achieve the various shades of red by mixing red with brown or a touch of black. Create the sunset glow by blending yellow and orange.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Making the reflections too detailed or sharp.
- →Using too much detail in the trees, losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Not establishing a clear value range, resulting in a flat image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Red oil paint
- ·Yellow oil paint
- ·Brown oil paint
- ·Orange oil paint
- ·Round brush
- ·Flat brush
- ·Linseed oil
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas for this project. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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