plate no. 4538

March Storm, Georgian Bay

A.Y. Jackson, 1920

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapewatertreesskysnowrocks

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and broken color techniques to create a sense of depth and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, trees, water, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and white, using loose, vertical brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the horizon line and the dark mass of the trees with a dark purple-brown mixture.
step 04
Paint the water with a base of dark blue-purple, adding lighter reflections with horizontal strokes.
step 05
Define the foreground rocks and snow patches with variations of browns, whites, and purples.
step 06
Add details to the trees, suggesting their shapes with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the sky and water, blending some areas and leaving others with visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray by combining white with small amounts of blue, umber, and red. Achieve the dark purple-brown for the trees by mixing umber, blue, and a touch of red. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, losing the texture and broken color effect.
→Making the trees too uniform and detailed.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow and sky.
→Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh and unrealistic scene.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags or paper towels

optional

·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·easel
·varnish

Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a more harmonious painting.

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