plate no. 2192

Berchtesgaden

oilRealismlandscapemountainsbuildingsrivertreesskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It will also provide practice in rendering realistic textures and details in buildings and natural elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, buildings, and river.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, blending towards the horizon.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted purples and blues, using lighter values for mountains further away.
step 04
Paint the large mountain in the foreground, layering shades of green, brown, and gray to create form and texture.
step 05
Add the buildings, starting with the larger structure and then the smaller mill, paying attention to details like windows and rooflines.
step 06
Paint the river with varying shades of blue and white, suggesting movement and reflections.
step 07
Add details like trees, figures, and foliage, using smaller brushes for finer work.
step 08
Refine the painting with highlights and shadows, adjusting values to enhance depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant elements.

techniques

·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Overworking details before establishing the overall composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a less realistic effect.
→Ignoring atmospheric perspective, making distant elements appear too sharp.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian green)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife