plate no. 0747

Under the Cross

oilImpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyfoliagecrossautumn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as using expressive brushstrokes to convey mood and atmosphere. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash, blending it with hints of orange and pink near the horizon.
step 03
Establish the dark foreground with a mix of browns and blacks, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the tree trunks, varying the colors from dark brown to light gray and white to create the birch bark effect.
step 05
Add the foliage using short, broken brushstrokes of yellow, orange, and brown.
step 06
Define the cross shape with dark brown and black, adding subtle highlights.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · raw sienna

Achieve the sky colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, orange, and pink. The foliage colors are created by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and cadmium orange in varying proportions. Darken colors with burnt umber and lighten with titanium white.

techniques

·dry brushing
·layering
·scumbling
·broken color
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.