plate no. 5468

Valley in Southern France

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapevalleybuildingfigurestreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using visible brushstrokes to build texture. It's a good exercise in simplifying a landscape 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 shapes of the landscape: mountains, fields, building, and wall.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue and yellow mix, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the distant mountains with muted greens and blues.
step 04
Paint the fields using broad strokes of yellow, ochre, and green, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 05
Add the trees with dabs of green and yellow, creating a loose, textured effect.
step 06
Paint the building with a light yellow, adding shadows with burnt sienna and umber.
step 07
Define the wall with browns and grays, using short, visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Add the figures with simple shapes and dark tones.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · raw umber · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue. Achieve muted tones by adding a touch of burnt sienna to your colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques