plate no. 6435

Lake Thun

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainslakelandscapeskyhillstrees

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning about layering colors and creating depth in a landscape. Students can practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using color temperature to create 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 mountains, lake, and hills, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of purple and gray, adding hints of orange for the sunset.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with varying shades of purple, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 04
Add a layer of green and brown to the hills, varying the shades to create depth and form.
step 05
Paint the lake with a light gray-blue, reflecting the colors of the sky.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as trees and bushes, using darker greens and browns.
step 07
Refine the brushstrokes and add highlights to create texture and interest.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · purple · green · gray · white

secondary · orange · brown · blue

Mix purples by combining red and blue, add white to lighten. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, add brown to mute. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding more gray to distant colors.

techniques

·layering
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, uninteresting landscape.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy, confusing palette.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the distant mountains too vibrant.