plate no. 0969
Composition
Josef Sima, 1950
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing color mixing and layering techniques. Students can learn to create depth and texture with simple shapes and limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: the hill, the sky area, and the suggestion of a foreground.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light turquoise color, blending for a smooth transition.
- step 03
Apply a darker blue-green to the horizon line and the area just above the hill.
- step 04
Fill in the hill with a base layer of yellow, varying the tone slightly.
- step 05
Add shadows to the hill using a mix of yellow and a touch of brown or orange.
- step 06
Paint the suggestion of trees with vertical strokes of green, varying the shades.
- step 07
Add small touches of green for the vegetation along the horizon line.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add subtle details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · turquoise · yellow · green
secondary · blue · brown · orange
Mix turquoise by combining blue and green with white. Achieve shadows on the hill by adding small amounts of brown or orange to the base yellow.
techniques
- ·color layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·simplified shapes
common pitfalls
- →overworking the colors
- →creating too much detail
- →not varying the tones enough
- →making the shapes too precise
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·canvas or paper
- ·flat brushes
- ·round brushes
- ·palette
- ·water container
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·medium for acrylics
Use a canvas with a slightly textured surface to enhance the brushwork.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
