plate no. 7316

Ashtarak in hazy day

Martiros Sarian, 1954

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainsskycloudslandscapevillagetrees

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, and using simplified shapes to represent complex forms. Students will develop skills in color mixing and loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, land, and sky with light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blues and purples, leaving space for the clouds.
step 03
Establish the mountain range with darker blues and greens, suggesting the snow-capped peaks.
step 04
Lay in the mid-ground with ochre, yellow, and green, creating a sense of receding space.
step 05
Define the foreground trees with dark greens and blues, using broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the village details with small strokes of warm colors, suggesting the buildings.
step 07
Refine the cloud shapes and add highlights to the mountains and trees.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values to create a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · viridian green

secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and greens with white to create the atmospheric haze in the mountains. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the warm tones of the land.

techniques