plate no. 2585

Ben More from Iona

Samuel Peploe, 1924

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainswaterrocksskylandscapeisland

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and using color temperature to create depth. Students can learn to create a sense of form with relatively few brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountains, water line, and foreground rocks.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-grey mix.
step 03
Establish the mountain masses with darker blue and purple tones, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the water with a lighter blue, reflecting the sky.
step 05
Block in the foreground rocks with a base of white mixed with browns and purples.
step 06
Add shadows to the rocks using darker blues and purples to define their forms.
step 07
Add highlights to the rocks using lighter tints of white and beige.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · purple · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water. Use umber and white for the rocks, adding touches of blue and purple for shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white for highlights on the rocks.

techniques