plate no. 5913
View of Fiesole
William Merritt Chase, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in using broken color techniques to represent light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the position of the building, and the main tree shapes.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant hills.
- step 03
Establish the basic values and colors of the foliage, using a variety of greens, yellows, and browns.
- step 04
Add details to the building, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the foreground foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Paint the tree branches, using a thin brush and a dark brown color.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the foliage to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, sap green and ultramarine blue. Use burnt sienna and alizarin crimson to create warm browns and earth tones.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·layering
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones
- →Neglecting to establish a clear value structure
- →Getting lost in details too early
- →Using too much paint and losing the texture
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the broken color effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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