plate no. 1824

Lake Garda

Koloman Moser, 1912

oil, canvasSymbolismlandscapemountainslakeskylandscapewater

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in capturing the texture of a mountain using broken color and learning to mix subtle variations of blues and greens for the water. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

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 range and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray wash.
step 03
Establish the base color of the water with a mid-tone blue-gray.
step 04
Begin layering in the mountain colors, starting with the darker areas and working towards the lighter highlights.
step 05
Use broken color and short brushstrokes to create the texture of the rocks and vegetation.
step 06
Add highlights to the water to suggest reflections and movement.
step 07
Refine the details of the mountain range, paying attention to the shapes and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue-gray for the water by combining ultramarine blue, raw umber, and titanium white. Achieve mountain colors by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, viridian green, and small amounts of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the water and mountains.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, viridian green)
·round brushes (#2, #6)
·flat brush (#8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife