plate no. 6960

From Húsafell, Mt. Strútur, West Iceland

Asgrimur Jonsson, 1945

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapemountainstreesskycloudsfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice expressive brushwork and learn to simplify complex landscapes into basic shapes and colors. It also provides an opportunity to explore color mixing and layering techniques.

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 mountains, trees, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, suggesting cloud shapes.
step 03
Apply a base layer of yellow and orange to the foreground.
step 04
Add darker greens and browns to the trees and foliage, using short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the mountain shapes with blues, purples, and pinks.
step 06
Layer in details to the trees and foreground, varying the colors and brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the trees and mountains to create depth.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium red · violet

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve various shades of brown by mixing burnt sienna with ultramarine blue or black. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Failing to simplify the landscape into basic shapes.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, sap green, cadmium red)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags