plate no. 7036

Black Mesa Landscape, New Mexico - Out Back of Mary`s II

oilPrecisionismlandscapemountainslandscapehillsskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting helps students understand color blocking and how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in blending colors to create smooth transitions and subtle value changes.

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 and hills, focusing on their overall form and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, mountains, and foreground hills.
step 03
Begin blending the colors within each section to create smooth transitions and subtle value changes.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the shadows and contours of the mountains and hills.
step 05
Introduce lighter values to highlight the peaks and ridges.
step 06
Paint the small trees in the foreground with simple brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the shapes, paying attention to the overall harmony of the composition.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · raw umber

Mix blues and white for the sky, adding small amounts of black or umber for darker mountain shades. Use burnt sienna and white for the hills, adding green and umber for shadows. Mix greens and yellows for the foreground vegetation.

techniques