plate no. 1638
Landscape in Moonlight
Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1913
some experience helpful
This painting provides a good opportunity to practice color mixing for atmospheric perspective and capturing the texture of snow with visible brushstrokes. Students can also learn to simplify complex landscapes into basic shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, mountain shapes, and tree placement.
- step 02
Establish the sky with light blue and white, blending for a soft, cloudy effect.
- step 03
Block in the distant mountains with darker blues and purples, creating a sense of depth.
- step 04
Paint the foreground snow with varying shades of blue, white, and gray to suggest shadows and texture.
- step 05
Add the brown and gray areas of the foreground, blending them into the snow.
- step 06
Paint the trees with thin, vertical strokes of blue, purple, and white, suggesting branches and foliage.
- step 07
Add subtle highlights to the snow and trees to enhance the moonlight effect.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric landscape.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber
secondary · purple · gray · yellow ochre
Mix blues and white for the sky and snow, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber to create subtle variations. Use purple for shadows in the snow and mountains. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark areas.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·visible brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much pure white, resulting in a flat, unrealistic snow effect.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the texture of the snow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 12x16 or 16x20 inches). Consider using a toned canvas to create a warmer base for the painting.
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