plate no. 7187
Der blaue Berg
Lesser Ury, 1910
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, trees, and path.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light, warm color.
- step 03
Paint the mountain using a dark blue, varying the tone slightly to suggest form.
- step 04
Add the trees, focusing on their silhouettes and the negative space between branches.
- step 05
Paint the path with a light, warm color, blending it into the surrounding foliage.
- step 06
Add details to the foliage using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the mountain and trees to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the dark blue of the mountain. Add white to lighten the tones. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the path and foliage, adjusting the ratios to create variations in color.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not simplifying the forms enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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