plate no. 5474
A Northern Silver Mine
Franklin Carmichael, 1930
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex landscapes into geometric forms and understanding atmospheric perspective through color and value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth using overlapping shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, hills, buildings, and water, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general layout of the sky and land masses.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: the sky, hills, water, and the foreground buildings.
- step 04
Develop the color variations within each area, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
- step 05
Add details to the buildings and the landscape, such as the windows, roofs, and the textures of the mountains.
- step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form of the mountains and buildings.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious and balanced composition.
color palette
primary · green · blue · red-brown · white
secondary · yellow · grey · brown · light blue
Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, adjusting the ratio for warmer or cooler tones. Achieve the mountain colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, grey, and purple. The red-brown of the buildings can be created by mixing burnt umber with a touch of red.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·geometric simplification
- ·layering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes of the mountains.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle color variations.
- →Creating too much contrast, losing the atmospheric perspective.
- →Ignoring the geometric forms of the buildings.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·turpentine or paint thinner
- ·varnish
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) to allow for sufficient detail. Acrylics are recommended for beginners due to their faster drying time.
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