plate no. 1875

Valencian landscape

Alejandro Cabeza, 2003

oilImpressionismlandscapetreesbuildinglandscapevegetationshadowspath

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting helps students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color temperature to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of light and shadow in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the building, the post, and the general areas of foliage.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the yellow-toned ground, the green foliage, and the light gray building.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes of the foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves and branches.
step 04
Add darker greens and browns to the foliage to create shadows and depth.
step 05
Develop the form of the building with subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the post, paying attention to the way the light hits it.
step 07
Add small details, such as the highlights on the foliage and the texture of the ground.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, making sure the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cerulean blue

Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre or burnt umber. Achieve the building's color by mixing white with a touch of burnt umber and yellow ochre. Use cerulean blue to cool down the greens and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color mixing
·value study

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using too much detail in the foliage, making it look dense and unnatural.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
→Not simplifying the scene enough, resulting in a cluttered composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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