plate no. 4077

Wind Breaks

oilMagic Realismlandscapetreesforestlandscapeskyfoliagewoods

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into stylized shapes. Students will learn to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective and color variation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the background sky with a thin wash of yellow ochre.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the trees with a dark green or brown.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the trees, starting with the darkest shades and gradually adding lighter highlights.
step 05
Use small, repetitive brushstrokes to create the texture of the foliage.
step 06
Add details to the tree trunks and branches.
step 07
Create a sense of depth by making the trees in the background lighter and less detailed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · dark green · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white · sap green

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve the red hues by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques