plate no. 1726

Moonlight (Night Scene)

oilTonalismlandscapetreesmoonlandscapeskywaternight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as using brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, tree masses, and moon position.
step 02
Apply a thin, dark underpainting using burnt umber or a similar dark brown.
step 03
Begin layering the sky with light blues, grays, and whites, blending the colors softly.
step 04
Add darker tones to the upper sky area to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 05
Paint the moon with a light yellow or off-white, blending the edges softly to create a glow.
step 06
Build up the tree masses with layers of dark greens, browns, and blacks, using broken brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 07
Add highlights to the trees and foreground using lighter greens and browns to create form and texture.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · ivory black

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber to create subtle variations. Darken the greens with black and burnt umber.

techniques