plate no. 4288

Mount Hood

Childe Hassam, 1908

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainskycloudscityscapelandscape

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice broken color techniques and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, sky, and cityscape, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues, pinks, and yellows, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the mountain's form with white and yellow, adding shadows with cooler tones.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with varying shades of blue to create depth.
step 05
Lay down the base color for the cityscape using a dark blue.
step 06
Add small strokes of orange, red, and white to represent buildings and details in the cityscape.
step 07
Refine the foreground with darker blues and greens, suggesting foliage and textures.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the mountain and sky.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · cerulean blue

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white and a touch of yellow ochre. Create pinks and oranges by blending white with alizarin crimson and cadmium orange, respectively.

techniques