plate no. 0077

Trees in a Field

Edouard Vuillard, 1907

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesfieldlandscapefoliagegrasssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using loose brushstrokes to suggest form rather than define it precisely. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall impression of a scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the position of the main tree, and the general areas of foliage.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of yellow ochre or raw umber to the entire canvas as an underpainting.
step 03
Begin blocking in the larger areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant foliage, using a mix of greens, yellows, and whites.
step 04
Work your way forward, adding layers of color to the trees and grass, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Introduce darker values to create shadows and depth, especially in the foliage and around the base of the trees.
step 06
Add highlights to the grass and leaves to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the details of the tree trunk and branches, using a smaller brush.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the colors and values.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre with sap green and small amounts of ultramarine blue. Use raw umber and burnt sienna to create earth tones and shadows.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·layering
·color mixing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much detail and not enough suggestion.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags