plate no. 5567

Mountain Lakes, Olden, Norwas

Willard Metcalf, 1913

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainslaketreesriverlandscapevillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to represent light and atmosphere. It will also improve their understanding of landscape composition and creating depth.

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 placement of the mountains, lake, river, and trees.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and mountains, then the water and land.
step 03
Begin adding details to the mountains, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 04
Develop the trees and foliage with a variety of greens, using dabs and strokes of different sizes.
step 05
Paint the river, capturing the movement of the water with horizontal brushstrokes and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the village and other small elements.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · burnt sienna · violet

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten values. Achieve the mountain's color by mixing blues, violets, and a touch of brown.

techniques