plate no. 8338

Approaching Storm

Ernest Lawson, 1920

oil, board, canvasImpressionismlandscapelandscapemountainstreeswaterskyhouse

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as using visible brushstrokes to build texture and form. Students will also learn how to simplify complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the mountains, house, and water.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of blue, grey, and white, blending the colors to create a cloudy effect.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with darker blues and greens, keeping the values muted.
step 04
Paint the middle ground with varying shades of green and brown, suggesting trees and foliage with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the house with light, warm tones, paying attention to its placement and size relative to the landscape.
step 06
Develop the foreground with darker greens and browns, adding details to the water and rocks with horizontal and vertical strokes.
step 07
Refine the details throughout the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture of the landscape.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Sap green · Yellow ochre · Titanium white

secondary · Burnt umber · Cadmium yellow · Ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining Prussian blue and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective. Burnt umber can be used to darken greens and create shadows.

techniques

·Layering
·Broken color
·Impasto
·Scumbling
·Wet-on-wet blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Creating too much contrast
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Sap green, Yellow ochre, Titanium white, Burnt umber)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife