plate no. 4684
Coloma Ridge
Wayne Thiebaud, 1968
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using visible brushstrokes to add texture and movement. It also encourages simplification of complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hillside and the main shadow areas.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of light blue to the sky area.
- step 03
Block in the general colors of the hillside: yellows, ochres, and greens.
- step 04
Establish the dark shadow areas with a mix of blues, browns, and blacks.
- step 05
Add details to the trees and vegetation using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
- step 06
Layer lighter colors on the sunlit areas to create highlights.
- step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the forms.
- step 08
Add final touches and details to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · titanium white · sap green · cadmium yellow
Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the deep shadows. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for the sunlit areas. Add small amounts of sap green to the hillside for vegetation.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the shadows too flat and lacking depth.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and getting bogged down in detail.
- →Not achieving the correct color temperature in the highlights and shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a quick-drying medium to speed up the drying process.
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