plate no. 4708
Willunga landscape
Horace Trenerry, 1947
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values. Students will also learn to use brushstrokes to suggest texture and movement.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the tree, horizon line, and fence.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and gray washes, creating horizontal cloud shapes.
- step 03
Establish the ground plane with a base layer of green and brown.
- step 04
Paint the tree trunk and branches with a darker blue-gray, varying the thickness of the lines.
- step 05
Add foliage to the tree using short, broken brushstrokes of blue, green, and gray.
- step 06
Paint the fence with thin lines of brown and yellow, suggesting the posts and rails.
- step 07
Refine the details of the clouds, tree, and ground, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Add final touches to blend the colors and create a sense of unity.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · payne's gray
Mix various shades of blue and gray by combining ultramarine blue, titanium white, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the greens by mixing yellow ochre and sap green. Use payne's gray to darken the blues and create shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
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