plate no. 7124

Woman Walking in an Exotic Forest

Henri Rousseau, 1905

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)genre paintingjunglefoliagewomantreesflowersoranges

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering, creating depth through color and size variation, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also encourages careful observation of botanical details and understanding of naive art style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the placement of the woman, trees, flowers, and oranges.
step 02
Block in the background with a base layer of green, varying the shades to suggest depth.
step 03
Paint the tree trunks and branches, using dark greens and browns.
step 04
Add the foliage, focusing on the shapes of the leaves and varying the greens to create texture.
step 05
Paint the blue flowers, paying attention to their size and placement.
step 06
Add the oranges, using bright orange and yellow hues.
step 07
Paint the woman's figure, using a light pink or white for her dress.
step 08
Refine the details, such as the leaves, flowers, and the woman's features.

color palette

primary · sap green · viridian · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Mix various shades of green by combining sap green, viridian, yellow ochre, and white. Create the blue flowers by mixing ultramarine blue with a touch of white. Achieve the orange color by mixing cadmium orange with a touch of yellow.

techniques