plate no. 2298
Burnt Area with Ragged Rocks
Tom Thomson, 1915
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to learn about atmospheric perspective and simplifying complex scenes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the rocks, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and pink hues, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the dark mass of the forest in the background using dark greens and blues.
- step 04
Paint the lake with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky.
- step 05
Add the rocks in the foreground, using thick paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Paint the bare trees with thin, vertical strokes, varying the thickness and color.
- step 07
Add details and highlights to the rocks and trees to enhance depth and realism.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium yellow
secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · ultramarine blue
Mix the sky colors by blending cerulean blue, titanium white, and a touch of alizarin crimson for the pink hues. Achieve the dark greens for the forest by mixing viridian green, ultramarine blue, and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Making the rocks too uniform in color and texture.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, making the background too sharp.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a flat painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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