plate no. 0385
Landscape, Haystack Mountain, Vermont
Asher Brown Durand, 1852
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also offers practice in rendering realistic foliage and natural textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the mountain's placement and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the mountain's form with varying shades of gray and blue, using lighter tones for highlights.
- step 04
Paint the distant trees and hills with muted greens and browns, gradually increasing color saturation as you move forward.
- step 05
Add the foreground trees, rocks, and foliage, paying attention to detail and texture.
- step 06
Paint the water, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape.
- step 07
Add the figure and dog, keeping them small in scale to emphasize the vastness of the landscape.
- step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix various shades of green by combining blue, yellow, and brown. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant elements.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details in the distant landscape.
- →Creating overly saturated colors that detract from the atmospheric effect.
- →Ignoring the subtle value shifts that create depth.
- →Making the figure too prominent.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.
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