plate no. 1535

Guardian of the Brachina Gorge

Hans Heysen, 1937

oilRealismlandscapetreesmountainslandscapeskyhillsfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as capturing the texture of tree bark and rock formations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, trees, and foreground.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with diluted washes of violet and brown.
step 04
Begin layering washes on the main mountain, building up the color and shadows.
step 05
Paint the trees with light washes of ochre and brown, adding details to the bark.
step 06
Add details to the foreground with washes of brown, green, and ochre.
step 07
Add shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and add final touches.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and ochre for the landscape and trees. Use diluted washes of blue and violet for the distant mountains. Mix greens by combining blue and yellow.

techniques