plate no. 6286

Lake Scene with Trees and Mountains

Maggie Laubser, 1920

oilExpressionismlandscapetreesmountainslakeskylandscapeboat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for landscapes and how to create depth using atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting tree forms with simplified shapes and visible brushstrokes.

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 trees, mountains, and lake, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, varying the tone slightly to create depth.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a muted blue-purple, using lighter tones for the higher peaks.
step 04
Add the water using a darker, more saturated blue, blending it slightly where it meets the shoreline.
step 05
Block in the main tree trunks and branches with brown, varying the tone to suggest form.
step 06
Paint the foliage of the trees with different shades of green, using short, choppy brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Add the foreground with a mix of browns, greens, and yellows, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Add details like the boat and highlights on the water and foliage.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and create muted tones by adding a touch of complementary color (e.g., orange to blue). Use white to lighten colors and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques