plate no. 1142

Landscape With River

Nutzi Acontz, 1954

oilImpressionismlandscaperiverlandscapetreesskyrocksvegetation

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning how to mix natural greens and create depth using atmospheric perspective. Students will also practice layering paint and creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and major shapes (landmass, river).
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue-grey.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the trees and foreground rocks.
step 04
Layer in the mid-tones for the landmass and river, focusing on color variations.
step 05
Add highlights to the rocks and water to create reflections.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the trees and add details to the foreground.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cerulean blue

Mix greens by combining viridian green and yellow ochre. Add white to lighten values and blue to cool down the greens. Use burnt umber to create dark browns and shadows.

techniques