plate no. 4891

Midnight sun on the island of Hestman in Norway

oilRomanticismlandscapemountainswaterrocksskycloudssun

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth and mood. Students will also practice rendering realistic rock textures and reflections in water.

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 mountains, rocks, and water, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the position of the sun.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber and ultramarine blue to the entire canvas to create an underpainting.
step 04
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the sky and then moving to the mountains, water, and rocks.
step 05
Gradually build up the layers of paint, adding details and refining the shapes.
step 06
Use a dry brush to create texture on the rocks and mountains.
step 07
Add highlights to the water and rocks to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Finish by adding the small figures on the rocks and the birds in the water.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark tones of the mountains and rocks. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Use yellow ochre and alizarin crimson to add warmth to the sky and rocks.

techniques