plate no. 1522

Valley of the Creuse, Crozant

Othon Friesz, 1901

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscaperivervalleymountainstreesbridge

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in using directional brushstrokes to define form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river and the main landforms.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of white and pale blue, allowing it to fade towards the horizon.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color on the hillsides, using a mix of greens, blues, and browns.
step 04
Begin adding layers of broken color to create texture and depth, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the river with varying shades of blue and reflections of the surrounding landscape.
step 06
Add details to the bridge and any visible structures in the background.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensional effect.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · violet

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create various shades of brown by mixing burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten colors and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques