plate no. 9911

Hills with blue shades

Istvan Nagy, 1932

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapehillstreessnowlandscapeskybuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture. It also encourages simplification of forms and focus on overall mood.

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 hills, trees, and buildings, focusing on composition.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of light yellow/ochre for the sky and a muted green/brown for the distant hills.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of snow with white mixed with a touch of blue and brown.
step 04
Add the blue shadows on the snow using short, directional strokes.
step 05
Paint the trees and buildings with dark browns and blacks, using vertical and diagonal strokes to suggest branches and structure.
step 06
Layer additional colors and textures onto the hills and snow to create depth and interest.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and buildings, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

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

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix white with small amounts of blue and brown to create the cool snow shadows. Vary the proportions to achieve different shades. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the base for the sky and hills, then add small amounts of blue or green for variation.

techniques