plate no. 7893
When she woke up again she was lying on the moss in the forest
John Bauer, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering detailed textures with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a natural environment.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
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 figures and the major tree trunks.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of a neutral color like raw umber.
- step 03
Begin layering in darker values to define the shadows within the forest.
- step 04
Introduce the lighter values to create highlights on the figures and the mossy ground.
- step 05
Add details to the tree bark and foliage using small brushes and varying pressure.
- step 06
Carefully render the figures, paying attention to their proportions and expressions.
- step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches to enhance the overall atmosphere.
- step 08
Add the moon and the light coming through the trees.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna
Achieve the various shades of green and brown by mixing raw umber with yellow ochre and small amounts of ivory black. Use titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Using too much color and creating a visually cluttered composition.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure and ending up with a flat image.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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