plate no. 5748
Lake Wabagishik
Franklin Carmichael, 1928
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex landscapes into basic shapes and practice layering colors to create depth and form. It also offers a good exercise in capturing atmospheric effects through color and brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, lake, and foreground.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, focusing on the rain effect.
- step 03
Establish the base colors of the mountains, using greens, browns, and yellows.
- step 04
Layer darker tones to define the shadows and contours of the mountains.
- step 05
Paint the lake with dark greens and blues, adding horizontal strokes for texture.
- step 06
Add highlights to the lake to simulate light reflecting off the water.
- step 07
Paint the foreground rocks with whites and creams, adding subtle shadows and highlights.
- step 08
Add the dark green trees in the foreground and refine details throughout the painting.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · viridian green · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · payne's gray · cadmium yellow light
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create grays by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, which can flatten the image.
- →Using too much detail in the initial sketch.
- →Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·flat brush (#8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Using a medium-textured canvas will help create a more interesting surface for the paint to adhere to. Acrylic paints are recommended for their fast-drying properties.
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