plate no. 3459
Morgenlandschaft (Aurora)
Adam Elsheimer, 1606
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using value and color. It also provides practice in rendering foliage and subtle sky gradients.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landforms.
- step 02
Establish the sky gradient with light blues and yellows, blending smoothly.
- step 03
Block in the dark mass of the foreground hill with dark browns and greens.
- step 04
Add details to the trees, varying the greens and browns to create texture.
- step 05
Paint the distant hills and plains, using lighter and cooler colors to suggest distance.
- step 06
Add the figure in the foreground, using warm browns and reds.
- step 07
Refine the details of the architecture in the middle ground.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant elements.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground, losing the sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated for the distant elements.
- →Failing to create a smooth gradient in the sky.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure before adding details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to facilitate blending. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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