plate no. 2952

In the San Felipe Valley

Charles Reiffel, 1927

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainstreeslandscapevalleyskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as using brushstrokes to define form and texture in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, valley, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light color.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the mountain mass, paying attention to the shadows.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the mountain, using cooler tones for shadows and warmer tones for highlights.
step 05
Paint the middle ground, focusing on the horizontal planes and the transition from light to shadow.
step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage, using varied brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Define the foreground elements, including the river and rocks.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create earth tones by mixing browns, yellows, and reds. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques