plate no. 7149

Wood with Beech Trees

gouache, watercolor, paperPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesforestlandscapepathleaveswoods

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using a limited palette to achieve harmony. It also provides practice in depicting the illusion of space through perspective and atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the path.
step 02
Establish the background by applying a thin wash of blue and grey to suggest the sky and distant trees.
step 03
Begin layering the colors for the forest floor, using a mix of browns, oranges, and yellows to represent the fallen leaves.
step 04
Paint the tree trunks, starting with a base layer of green and adding shadows and highlights to create form.
step 05
Add details to the path, using lighter tones to suggest sunlight and darker tones for shadows.
step 06
Refine the foliage by adding small details and variations in color.
step 07
Pay attention to the overall color harmony and adjust the tones as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and white. Create the greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre and a touch of blue. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques