plate no. 3183
Moonrise
Clarence Gagnon, 1909
some experience helpful
This painting provides a good opportunity to practice color mixing to achieve subtle variations in blues and whites, as well as learning to suggest details with loose brushstrokes. Recreating this will help students understand how to create depth and atmosphere with color and value.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, river banks, and the position of the moon.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-violet wash, leaving a circle for the moon.
- step 03
Paint the distant hills and trees with darker blues and purples, suggesting snow cover.
- step 04
Establish the river with varying shades of blue, reflecting the sky and the moon.
- step 05
Add details to the river banks with snow and vegetation, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Paint the trees on the right side, using thin branches and subtle color variations.
- step 07
Add highlights to the snow and reflections in the water with white and pale yellow.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · violet
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber
Mix blues and whites for the sky and snow. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber to the blues to create warmer or cooler tones. Use violet to darken the blues for shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much white and making the painting look flat.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to suggest different textures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·violet oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
