plate no. 5239

Inland Australia

Sidney Nolan, 1950

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapehillsskyhorizondesertrocks

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering complex textures with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the larger hills and rock formations.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, blending it with a touch of pink towards the horizon.
step 03
Apply a base layer of burnt sienna and raw umber to the entire landscape area.
step 04
Begin layering darker shades of brown and red to define the shadows and crevices of the hills.
step 05
Add highlights with lighter shades of ochre and yellow to create form and dimension.
step 06
Use short, directional brushstrokes to mimic the texture of the terrain.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to enhance the overall depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · cerulean blue

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the base tones of the landscape. Add white to create highlights and red to create warmer tones. Mix blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of red for the horizon.

techniques