plate no. 0085

View from the Garden of Versailles

Lili Elbe, 1922

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapegardentreesurnlandscapehedgessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of perspective through color and detail.

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 urn, trees, and hedges.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, leaving some areas for clouds.
step 03
Establish the basic colors for the trees and hedges, using a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Add the darker values to the trees and hedges to create depth and form.
step 05
Paint the urn, starting with a light base color and adding shadows and highlights to define its shape.
step 06
Layer in the pinks and purples for the flowering trees, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add details to the hedges and pathways, paying attention to perspective.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust colors as needed to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · light blue · green · brown · pink

secondary · purple · white · grey

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and vary the shades by adding browns or whites. Achieve the pinks and purples by mixing reds and blues with white.

techniques