plate no. 4424

La Cloche

Franklin Carmichael, 1939

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainswaterskytreeslandscape

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to simplify complex landscapes into basic shapes and how to use color temperature to create depth. Students can also practice layering and blending to achieve subtle color transitions.

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 mountains and water.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue-green.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the mountains using a mix of dark blues, purples, and browns.
step 04
Add highlights to the mountains using lighter shades of green and yellow.
step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, blending blues and greens.
step 06
Add small details like trees and reflections.
step 07
Refine the edges and values to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark mountain shadows. Use yellow ochre and white to create the lighter tones in the sky. Mix viridian green with yellow ochre for the highlights on the trees.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the composition.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Not paying attention to the value relationships between the different elements.
→Failing to simplify the complex shapes of the landscape.