plate no. 7613

Kara-Dag Mountain

Martiros Sarian, 1922

oil, canvasSymbolismlandscapemountainlandscapeskyfieldtreesshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to depict light and shadow to create form. It also offers practice in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, horizon line, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue-gray.
step 03
Establish the basic tones of the mountain, differentiating between light and shadow areas.
step 04
Paint the field using broad strokes of ochre and brown, varying the colors slightly to suggest texture.
step 05
Add the row of trees in the foreground, using a mix of greens and blues.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights on the mountain and in the field.
step 07
Add details to the trees, suggesting individual forms with darker greens and browns.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · sap green · cadmium yellow

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber with white for the mountain shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the fields, varying the ratios. Mix sap green and cadmium yellow for the trees, adding a touch of blue for cooler tones.

techniques