plate no. 3183
Black Butte, Mount Shasta
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in rendering textures of trees and foliage using varied brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, mountain, and path.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, blending towards the horizon.
- step 03
Block in the general shapes of the mountain and trees with dark greens and browns.
- step 04
Begin layering the foliage, using variations of green and brown to create depth and texture.
- step 05
Paint the path with a mix of browns and oranges, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 06
Add details to the trees, including branches and highlights.
- step 07
Refine the mountain with subtle variations in color and value.
- step 08
Add the rabbits as a final detail.
color palette
primary · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Achieve the various greens by mixing sap green with burnt umber and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foliage, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to create enough depth in the landscape.
- →Using too much pure green, making the painting look unnatural.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and mountain.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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