plate no. 0373

Winter Landscape, Cornwall

Matthew Smith, 1920

oilFauvismlandscapelandscapetreesbuildingsfencefoliagenight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive color mixing and applying bold, visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and landscape, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the darkest areas of the sky and ground.
step 03
Add the red hues to the trees and buildings, varying the intensity and saturation.
step 04
Define the shapes of the trees and foliage with visible brushstrokes, using a mix of greens and blues.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and doors, using contrasting colors.
step 06
Create texture in the foreground with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the overall balance of color and value.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark sky and shadows. Use cadmium red and yellow ochre to create the vibrant red hues. Mix sap green with ultramarine blue and yellow ochre for the foliage.

techniques