plate no. 0062
Anzac from Gaba Tepe
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and values. Students will also learn to use visible brushstrokes to add energy and interest to the painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, sea, and foreground cliffs.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and gray.
- step 03
Establish the dark blue of the sea, paying attention to the horizontal brushstrokes.
- step 04
Begin layering colors on the mountains, using browns, tans, and greens to create the rocky texture.
- step 05
Work on the foreground cliffs, using a variety of browns and greens to create depth and shadow.
- step 06
Add details to the vegetation, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Introduce highlights on the cliffs and vegetation to create contrast.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · payne's gray
Mix different shades of blue for the sea by adding white or a touch of gray. Create the mountain colors by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use sap green and burnt umber for the vegetation.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Creating flat, uniform colors instead of layering and blending.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
- →Not simplifying the landscape into basic shapes before adding details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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