plate no. 1517

Mountains and Sea, Hardanger Fjord, Norway

William H. Johnson, 1938

oilExpressionismlandscapemountainsseafjordlandscapecloudssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and using bold brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve a range of greens and blues.

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 mountains, sea, and clouds using a pencil or thinned paint.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and then moving to the mountains and sea.
step 03
Mix different shades of green and blue to create depth and variation in the landscape.
step 04
Use bold, visible brushstrokes to add texture and dimension to the mountains and sea.
step 05
Add the white clouds, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
step 06
Define the edges of the shapes with dark outlines to create contrast and separation.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium yellow · Titanium white

secondary · Burnt umber · Cadmium red

Mix Prussian blue and Cadmium yellow to achieve various shades of green. Add white to lighten colors and Burnt umber to darken them. Use small amounts of Cadmium red to create warmer tones in the sky and mountains.

techniques