plate no. 3217
Kazbek
Alina Danilova, 2020
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with pastels and creating atmospheric perspective to convey depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures of mountains and snow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and the buildings.
- step 02
Apply a base layer of dark blue pastel for the sky, blending it smoothly.
- step 03
Add lighter shades of blue to the sky to create variations and depth.
- step 04
Block in the dark tones of the foreground mountains with dark blue and black pastels.
- step 05
Layer lighter blues and whites to suggest snow and highlights on the main mountain.
- step 06
Use short, directional strokes to create texture on the mountain surfaces.
- step 07
Add small details to the buildings with yellow and orange pastels to create a warm glow.
- step 08
Blend the edges of the mountains to create a sense of atmospheric haze.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Ultramarine blue · Titanium white
secondary · Black · Yellow · Orange
Mix different shades of blue with white to create the sky and mountain highlights. Use black to deepen the shadows in the mountains.
techniques
- ·Layering
- ·Blending
- ·Scumbling
- ·Atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, which can flatten the image.
- →Using too much pressure, which can make the colors muddy.
- →Neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky and mountains.
- →Making the buildings too bright, which can distract from the overall scene.
materials
surface · Pastel paper (toned blue or gray)
required
- ·Pastel set (various blues, white, black, yellow, orange)
- ·Pastel paper (toned blue or gray)
- ·Blending stumps or tortillions
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Soft cloth
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Workable fixative
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly rough texture to hold the pastel pigment well. Use a workable fixative to set layers of pastel and prevent smudging.
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