plate no. 4427

Fishing Near The Fjord By Moonlight

oilRomanticismlandscapemountainswaterboatscloudsbuildingsmoonlight

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for subtle gradations, and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting light and shadow to create a dramatic mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, water, and boats.
step 02
Establish the dark areas of the sky and mountains with a thin wash of dark brown and blue.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the clouds, leaving areas for the moonlight to shine through.
step 04
Begin layering in the colors of the mountains, using warmer tones in the areas illuminated by the moon.
step 05
Paint the water, reflecting the colors of the sky and mountains, and add the reflections of the buildings and boats.
step 06
Add details to the boats and figures, paying attention to their shapes and proportions.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details such as the waterfall and the subtle textures of the rocks and clouds.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the dark areas. Use white and yellow to create the moonlight and highlights. Mix crimson and yellow to create the warm tones in the mountains.

techniques