plate no. 7928

Hills at Great Bear Lake

A.Y. Jackson, 1953

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainslandscapeskycloudsrockshills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, as well as understanding how to simplify complex natural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, hills, and sky, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, distant hills, and foreground mountains using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the mountains to define their form and create shadows and highlights.
step 04
Add details to the foreground rocks, using a combination of dry brush and wet-on-wet techniques.
step 05
Refine the sky and clouds, adding subtle color variations to create depth.
step 06
Add final details, such as small highlights and shadows, to enhance the overall sense of realism.
step 07
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to color, value, or composition.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · raw umber · titanium white

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create the darker shadows on the mountains. Use yellow ochre and white to create the lighter areas of the sky. Mix viridian green with raw umber to create the muted greens in the foreground.

techniques

·layering
·dry brush
·wet-on-wet blending
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of simplicity.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating form and depth.
→Not establishing a clear focal point in the composition.