plate no. 7529
Into the Mountains
Rudolf Koller, 1881
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and depicting realistic animal forms with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in creating a cohesive color harmony using a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and animals.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted blues and grays for the sky and distant mountains.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the animals and figure with simplified color masses.
- step 04
Develop the values and details of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the cows and sheep, focusing on their textures and forms.
- step 06
Refine the foreground with loose brushstrokes to suggest grass and rocks.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value relationships to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix various shades of gray by combining white, black, and umber. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to warm up the grays and create earthy tones for the animals and landscape.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·grisaille underpainting
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the animals' fur and wool.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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