plate no. 8830
Algoma in November
A.Y. Jackson, 1935
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand layering techniques and how to create a sense of depth through color and value changes. It also provides practice in depicting atmospheric perspective and simplified forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into foreground, middle ground, and sky.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, water, hills, and foreground.
- step 03
Start with the sky, layering different shades of gray and brown to create the cloud formations.
- step 04
Paint the water, using horizontal strokes and reflecting the colors of the sky.
- step 05
Add the distant hills and trees, using a warm orange and brown palette.
- step 06
Define the foreground with darker browns and add details like the rocks and grass.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray · cadmium orange
Mix browns with varying amounts of white, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna to create different shades for the land and sky. Use Payne's gray to darken the browns and create shadows.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Making the cloud formations too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Ignoring the subtle color shifts in the water.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#4 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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