plate no. 1956

Errigal, Co. Donegal

Paul Henry, 1920

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainlakeskycloudslandscapehills

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. Students will also practice mixing muted colors and creating soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, hills, and shoreline, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, cloudy gray, using soft blending techniques.
step 03
Establish the base color of the mountain, a muted blue-gray, and gradually build up highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with progressively darker and cooler shades of blue-gray to create depth.
step 05
Add the water, reflecting the sky and mountain colors with horizontal strokes.
step 06
Define the shoreline with browns and greens, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Refine the details of the mountain, adding texture and subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix ultramarine blue and raw umber with white to create the various shades of gray and blue-gray for the mountain and sky. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt sienna to warm up the browns and greens for the shoreline.

techniques