plate no. 8740
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Ivan Albright, 1973
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. Students will also learn to create a sense of atmosphere and distance through color and value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, horizon line, and cloud placement.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending it softly.
- step 03
Paint the mountains with a light pink/beige, adding shadows with slightly darker tones.
- step 04
Add the green strip of land between the mountains and the field.
- step 05
Begin layering the field with yellows, oranges, and whites, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add small touches of green to represent foliage in the field.
- step 07
Paint the clouds with white and light grey, softening the edges.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · cadmium orange
secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · light grey
Mix white with small amounts of orange and sienna to achieve the mountain color. Vary the yellow ochre with white and orange for the field. Mix blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of grey for cloud shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors in the field, losing the texture.
- →Making the mountain color too saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the sky and mountains.
- →Creating too much detail in the field, making it look busy.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to help create the broken color effect. Acrylics are a good choice for beginners due to their fast drying time.
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