plate no. 7798

Looking Across the Grand Canyon

Edward Henry Potthast, 1910

oilImpressionismlandscapecanyonlandscapemountainsskycloudstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to create atmospheric perspective and layering brushstrokes to build texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the canyon walls and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall color temperature of each section.
step 04
Begin layering brushstrokes to build up the texture of the canyon walls.
step 05
Mix colors to create the atmospheric perspective, making distant objects cooler and lighter.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as trees and rocks.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix blues and browns with white to create the hazy atmosphere. Use red and yellow to create the warm tones of the canyon walls. Add small amounts of green to the shadows.

techniques