plate no. 8076
Elbrus summer sunset
Alina Danilova, 2020
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending pastels to create soft transitions and layering colors to achieve depth and atmospheric perspective. It also offers practice in depicting light and shadow on a mountain surface.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the mountain and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the basic colors of the sky: blues, pinks, and oranges.
- step 03
Start layering pastel strokes for the clouds, blending gently.
- step 04
Establish the base colors of the mountain: browns, pinks, and whites.
- step 05
Add shadows and highlights to the mountain to define its form.
- step 06
Develop the foreground with greens and browns, using short, broken strokes.
- step 07
Refine the details and blend colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and adjust values for overall balance.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · rose pink · titanium white · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · sap green
Mix pinks and oranges for the sunset clouds. Use white to lighten the mountain colors and create highlights. Mix browns and greens for the foreground.
techniques
- ·pastel blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, which can result in muddy colors.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure early on.
- →Using too much pressure, which can make the pastel look heavy.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and mountain.
materials
surface · pastel paper (toned)
required
- ·pastel set (soft pastels)
- ·pastel paper (toned)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·fixative spray
- ·paper towels
- ·drawing board
- ·soft blending tools (tortillons or blending stumps)
optional
- ·workable fixative
- ·pastel pencils
- ·palette for organizing pastels
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. A toned paper can help with establishing values quickly.
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