plate no. 3225

A border burn

Tom Scott, 1904

oilRealismlandscapemountainsriverskylandscapesheepfield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through color and value variations. They will also learn how to suggest detail rather than rendering every element precisely.

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, including the mountains, river, and foreground.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of grey, allowing for variations in tone to suggest clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted blues and purples, using lighter values for those further away.
step 04
Paint the foreground fields with a mix of browns, yellows, and greens, varying the colors to create texture.
step 05
Add the river using light blues and greys, suggesting movement with broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Indicate the sheep with small, simple shapes of white and grey.
step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, adding texture to the grass and rocks.
step 08
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to enhance the atmospheric perspective.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · sap green · payne's grey

Mix blues and umbers for the mountains, adding white for distance. Create earthy greens by mixing yellow ochre and sap green. Use Payne's grey and white for the sky.

techniques