plate no. 0689

Mountain Snowfall, Lake Oesa

J. E. H. MacDonald, 1932

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainssnowlakerocksskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in a landscape. Students will also learn how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

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 mountains, lake, and rocks, focusing on composition.
step 02
Establish a base layer of muted browns and grays for the mountain areas.
step 03
Add highlights to the mountains with lighter shades of beige and white, indicating snow cover.
step 04
Paint the lake with a mix of blues and greens, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 05
Define the rocks in the foreground with darker browns and oranges, adding highlights to suggest form.
step 06
Add details to the snow, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Create the falling snow effect with small dots of white paint, varying the size and density.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · raw sienna

Mix browns and grays by combining burnt umber with white and small amounts of blue or yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix blues and greens for the lake, adding small amounts of brown to mute the colors.

techniques

·dry brushing
·layering
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the snow dots too uniform and artificial.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·acrylic paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·water container
·paper towels

optional

·retarder medium
·easel
·painting medium

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the broken brushstroke effect. Acrylic paints are recommended for beginners due to their fast drying time and ease of use.

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