plate no. 1700

Flinders Ranges landscape

Hans Heysen, 1956

oilRealismlandscapetreesmountainslandscapeskygroundhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth. Students will also learn to depict the texture and form of trees using varied brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and mountains.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the major planes of the landscape.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of diluted color to the sky, using light blues and pinks.
step 04
Block in the distant mountains with muted purples and browns, paying attention to value changes.
step 05
Paint the trees, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 06
Develop the foreground with layers of warm browns, ochres, and greens, creating texture with varied brushstrokes.
step 07
Add details to the trees, such as branches and bark texture.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · alizarin crimson

Mix muted purples for the mountains by combining ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, and a touch of burnt sienna. Achieve the warm browns of the foreground by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and a small amount of ultramarine blue.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·color layering
·value gradation
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground, which can flatten the image.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the atmospheric perspective.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, which can make the painting appear muddy.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the trees and mountains.