plate no. 6028

Grand Canyon with Rainbow

Thomas Moran, 1912

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapeGrand Canyonlandscapemountainsskytreesrainbow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth and mood. It also provides practice in rendering complex geological forms and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the canyon and foreground elements, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of color, focusing on light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the sky and distant mountains with soft, blended colors.
step 04
Develop the mid-ground canyon walls, adding details and variations in color and texture.
step 05
Paint the foreground rocks and trees, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the atmosphere.
step 08
Add the rainbow with soft pastel colors.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix various shades of browns and grays by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric haze. Mix greens for the foliage by combining blue and yellow.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·dry brushing
·color blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the distant mountains, losing the sense of depth.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Making the foreground too sharp and detailed, drawing attention away from the focal point.