plate no. 6350
Villa Beaulieu, Honfleur
Felix Vallotton, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and fence, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, grass, house walls, and foliage, using thin washes.
- step 03
Start building up layers of color in the sky, adding subtle variations and highlights.
- step 04
Develop the foliage by layering different shades of green and adding highlights to suggest sunlight.
- step 05
Refine the details of the house, including the roof, windows, and brickwork, using smaller brushes.
- step 06
Add details to the fence and foreground, paying attention to the play of light and shadow.
- step 07
Add small details like flowers in the grass and branches in the trees.
- step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to color, value, or composition.
color palette
primary · sap green · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
Mix greens by blending blues and yellows with touches of brown for muted tones. Achieve the house's warm tones by mixing burnt sienna with white and a touch of red.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the foliage.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Oil paints (sap green, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
- ·Painting medium
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for good paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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