plate no. 3443

Mountain cottage

Vittorio Tessari, 1938

oil, panelNaturalismlandscapehousemountainslandscapefencefoliagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting a complex architectural structure within a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, mountains, and foreground elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the sky, mountains, house, and foliage.
step 04
Develop the atmospheric perspective by layering lighter, cooler tones in the distance.
step 05
Add details to the house, including the roof, windows, and balcony.
step 06
Refine the foreground elements, such as the fence, rocks, and grass, using varied brushstrokes.
step 07
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to achieve a cohesive composition.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium red · raw sienna

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding touches of red for the clouds. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the house, and mix greens with blues and yellows for the foliage. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques