plate no. 3385

Isolation Peak, Rocky Mountains

Lawren Harris, 1930

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainslandscapesnowskyhills

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and how to create depth using subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating smooth, blended gradients.

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 mountain and hills, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the dark background sky with a flat tone.
step 03
Apply the base color for the mountain, blending the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Add the darker brown tones to define the mountain's edges and crevices.
step 05
Paint the base color of the hills, creating a sense of depth through value changes.
step 06
Add the darker lines to the hills to create the undulating effect.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend any harsh transitions.
step 08
Add final highlights to the mountain and hills.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to achieve the various shades of the mountain and hills. Use more blue for the sky. Add yellow ochre to the white for the mountain highlights.

techniques