plate no. 0772

Mountain View

oilRealismlandscapemountaintreeslandscapefoliageskyriver

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing atmospheric perspective and layering washes to create depth. Students will also develop skills in rendering foliage and creating a sense of distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, trees, and river.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue/gray to the sky and mountain to establish the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Begin layering washes of brown and green for the distant trees, using lighter values for areas further away.
step 04
Gradually build up the darker values in the foreground trees, adding details with a smaller brush.
step 05
Paint the river with a light ochre wash, adding subtle reflections.
step 06
Add details to the foreground foliage, varying the colors and textures.
step 07
Refine the mountain's shape and add subtle shadows to define its form.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · raw sienna

Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber to create various shades of gray for the sky and mountain. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the river. Mix sap green with burnt umber for darker foliage.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·layering washes
·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·value control

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the distant areas, losing the atmospheric perspective.
→Using too much water, causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
→Making the foreground too dark, overpowering the rest of the painting.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.