plate no. 6603

Lonely Mother

Youssef Idrissi, 2016

pastel, charcoal, pigment, pencilRealismlandscapeskycloudstreeslandscapehorizonlight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to create atmospheric perspective using charcoal or pastels. It will also help develop skills in blending and layering to achieve smooth transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the horizon line, the position of the trees, and the basic shapes of the cloud formations.
step 02
Block in the darkest areas of the sky and foreground using charcoal or a dark pastel.
step 03
Add the lightest areas, focusing on the light source and highlights on the clouds.
step 04
Begin blending the charcoal or pastel to create smooth transitions between values.
step 05
Layer additional charcoal or pastel to build up the depth and complexity of the clouds.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees, paying attention to their silhouette against the sky.
step 07
Add subtle details to the foreground to suggest texture and depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and atmospheric image.