plate no. 5304

Blueberries in Fissures

Neil Welliver, 1983

oil, canvasContemporary Realismlandscapelandscaperockstreesskycloudsvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting textures of rocks and foliage, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the sky. It also provides practice in simplifying complex natural forms into manageable shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the rocks and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, creating soft cloud shapes.
step 03
Establish the overall tone of the rocks with a mid-tone gray.
step 04
Add darker values to the rocks to define form and create shadows.
step 05
Paint the orange/brown vegetation in the fissures between the rocks.
step 06
Add details to the vegetation with small brushstrokes and varying shades of green and brown.
step 07
Paint the trees on the horizon, simplifying their forms.
step 08
Refine the details of the rocks and vegetation, paying attention to edges and textures.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, raw umber, and a touch of blue. Achieve the orange/brown vegetation color by mixing burnt sienna with a touch of raw umber and yellow ochre.

techniques