plate no. 8525

WINTER LEAVES

JAROSLAV KELUC, 1968

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapefieldstreesskywaterhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in rendering bare trees and capturing the subtle color variations in a winter landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line, the river's path, and the placement of the trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash, allowing for some variation in tone to suggest clouds.
step 03
Establish the distant hills with muted greens and blues, keeping the values lighter than the foreground.
step 04
Paint the fields using a mix of ochre, brown, and green, varying the colors slightly to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 05
Define the river with a light gray-blue, adding subtle reflections and shadows.
step 06
Add the trees, starting with the main branches and then adding smaller twigs and branches. Use a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 07
Paint the foreground with a mix of browns, ochres, and greens, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and detail.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · sap green

Mix the sky color by combining white with a touch of cerulean blue and raw umber. Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and raw umber in different proportions. Use white to lighten the values and create highlights.

techniques

·dry brush
·layering
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Making the colors too saturated, resulting in an unrealistic winter landscape.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, leading to a flat and uninteresting painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and fields.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium
·odorless mineral spirits or water

optional

·easel
·rags
·apron

Use a medium-textured canvas to help create a more textured painting. If using oils, consider using a quick-drying medium to speed up the drying time.

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