plate no. 5345

Altars

Konstantin Bogaevsky, 1907

oil, canvasSymbolismlandscapemountainstreesskycloudslandscapeatmosphere

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing pointillism and broken color techniques to achieve a textured effect. It also provides an opportunity to study atmospheric perspective and how it affects color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, trees, and sky, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Apply a thin, light underpainting of a neutral color like raw umber to tone the canvas.
step 03
Begin layering in the sky with light blues and whites, using small, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Block in the main shapes of the mountains with light grays and creams, gradually adding darker values to create form.
step 05
Paint the trees in the foreground, using a mix of greens and browns, and varying the brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the mountains, such as rocks and shadows, using a fine brush.
step 07
Refine the clouds and atmosphere, blending colors and adding highlights.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric landscape.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · raw umber

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix light grays and creams for the mountains by combining white with small amounts of raw umber, blue, and yellow ochre. Achieve atmospheric effects by layering thin washes of diluted colors.

techniques

·pointillism
·broken color
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring atmospheric perspective and failing to create a sense of depth.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture and interest.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·titanium white oil paint
·cerulean blue oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·sap green oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·assorted brushes (small round, filbert, flat)
·palette

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium (linseed oil or alkyd medium)
·easel

A canvas with a fine weave will be helpful for achieving the detailed brushwork in this painting. Consider using a medium to thin the oil paints and improve flow.

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