plate no. 3270

Wooded Path in Autumn

Hans Andersen Brendekilde, 1902

oilRealismgenre paintingtreesleavespathfigurelakeautumn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the path, trees, and figure placement.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, water, foliage, and ground.
step 03
Begin layering colors in the foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes to represent leaves.
step 04
Develop the path with varying shades of brown and yellow, suggesting the texture of fallen leaves.
step 05
Paint the figure, focusing on capturing the form and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the trees, including branches and highlights on the bark.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, using horizontal strokes.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw umber · titanium white

Mix various shades of brown and yellow by combining burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the sky and water tones.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Creating flat, uniform colors instead of varied, textured surfaces.
→Ignoring the effects of light and shadow on the forms.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, raw umber, titanium white)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#4, #8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits