plate no. 5394

Mount McKinley

oilRomanticismlandscapemountainstreesskylandscapesnowfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of foliage and the subtle color variations in snow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the mountain range and the placement of the trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with varying shades of blue and purple, creating atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Add the snow-capped peak, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the mid-ground foliage with a mix of browns, greens, and yellows, using loose brushstrokes.
step 06
Define the trees in the foreground, focusing on their delicate branches and subtle color variations.
step 07
Add details to the foreground foliage, creating texture and depth.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix blues and whites for the sky and distant mountains. Use umber and ochre for the foreground foliage, adding touches of crimson and green for variation. Create grays by mixing complementary colors for shadows in the snow.

techniques