plate no. 2489

Mountains and Desert

Maurice Braun, 1930

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainsdeserttreesskycloudslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as practicing broken color techniques to represent textures.

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, trees, and foreground, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, adding soft pinks and whites for the clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted blues and purples, gradually lightening and warming the colors as they come forward.
step 04
Paint the larger mountain masses with earth tones, using broken color to suggest texture and form.
step 05
Add the trees in the midground, using a mix of greens, grays, and whites to create a silvery effect.
step 06
Develop the foreground with warm browns, ochres, and touches of green, adding details like rocks and grasses.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture of the landscape.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix muted blues and purples for the distant mountains by combining ultramarine blue with burnt sienna and a touch of white. Achieve the silvery-green of the trees by mixing sap green with white and a touch of ultramarine blue.

techniques