plate no. 4147

Early November, North Greenland

Rockwell Kent, 1933

oilAmerican Realismlandscapeicebergsmountainswaterfiguressnowlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, icebergs, and shoreline, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient from blue to a lighter, warmer tone near the horizon.
step 03
Establish the dark values in the water and shadows on the icebergs and mountains.
step 04
Add the mid-tones to the icebergs and mountains, carefully observing the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Paint the shoreline with a mix of warm and cool tones, reflecting the sky and the snow.
step 06
Add the figures and structures on the shoreline, keeping them simple and proportional.
step 07
Refine the details of the icebergs and mountains, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights to the snow and ice to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix blues and whites for the sky and icebergs, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt umber and ultramarine to create the dark tones in the water and shadows.

techniques

·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·blocking in
·layering
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the snow and ice.
→Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, which can make the mountains appear closer than they are.