plate no. 9843

Coming to the Call

Frederic Remington, 1905

oilTonalismlandscapelakemoosecanoereflectionsunsetsilhouette

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing tonal gradients and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides an opportunity to study reflections and silhouette painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare your canvas with a toned ground (e.g., a thin wash of burnt umber).
step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the shoreline, canoe, and moose.
step 03
Block in the sky with a gradient of yellow and orange, blending smoothly.
step 04
Paint the water with a similar gradient, reflecting the sky's colors.
step 05
Carefully paint the silhouette of the shoreline, canoe, and moose with a dark, near-black color.
step 06
Add the reflection of the shoreline and moose in the water, softening the edges.
step 07
Add the distant blue horizon line.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · titanium white

Achieve the sky and water gradients by gradually mixing yellow ochre with burnt sienna and a touch of white. The dark silhouette is created by mixing raw umber and ultramarine blue.

techniques