plate no. 2087
View of South Hadley
Alexander Helwig Wyant, 1865
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle color and value changes. Students will also learn to suggest detail rather than rendering every leaf and branch.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the horizon line, the river, and the major tree groupings.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a light, muted gray-blue wash, blending seamlessly to create soft clouds.
- step 03
Block in the distant mountains and valley with diluted browns and greens, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Begin layering the foliage in the foreground, using darker greens and browns to create depth and texture.
- step 05
Paint the main tree on the right, focusing on the form and texture of the trunk and branches.
- step 06
Add highlights to the foliage and tree trunk to suggest sunlight.
- step 07
Refine the details of the foreground foliage, adding small touches of color and texture.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · viridian green
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use thin washes of color to build up layers and create depth.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground
- →Creating too much contrast, losing the atmospheric effect
- →Using colors that are too saturated
- →Not establishing a clear value structure
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth texture to facilitate blending. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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