plate no. 3184
Baffin Island
Lawren Harris, 1931
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle gradations and in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes. It also encourages understanding of atmospheric perspective through color and value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, water, and foreground.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient from darker blue at the top to lighter blue near the horizon.
- step 03
Paint the large mountain range with white, adding subtle shadows with gray and yellow.
- step 04
Add the smaller mountains in the foreground using browns and tans, defining their forms with light and shadow.
- step 05
Paint the water with varying shades of blue and white to represent ice and reflections.
- step 06
Define the foreground with dark browns and blacks.
- step 07
Refine the shapes and edges of the mountains and ice floes.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the sense of depth and form.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · payne's gray
Mix white with small amounts of blue to create the sky gradient. Use yellow ochre and white for the highlights on the mountains. Mix burnt umber with white and a touch of blue for the foreground rocks.
techniques
- ·color blending
- ·layering
- ·geometric simplification
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and adding too much detail.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the mountains and the sky.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the ice and water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a smooth canvas for easier blending. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
