plate no. 9792

Forest Wilderness

J. E. H. MacDonald, 1921

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainstreesforestlandscapeautumnhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using short, repetitive brushstrokes to suggest texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex natural forms into more abstract shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of yellow ochre.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the shadows of the mountains and trees using a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue.
step 04
Begin layering in the greens and browns of the distant mountains, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Work on the middle ground, adding more detail to the trees and foliage with reds, oranges, and yellows.
step 06
Define the foreground with thicker paint and more pronounced brushstrokes, focusing on the texture of the ground.
step 07
Add highlights to the trees and foliage to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · sap green · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow. Achieve earth tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and small amounts of red or blue. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques