plate no. 8976

Mountains

Charles Reiffel, 1935

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainslandscapeskyhillscloudshorizon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of natural forms with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic mountain ranges and horizon line, paying attention to the relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, adding subtle variations for clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted blues and purples, using lighter values for those further away.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the foreground mountains, focusing on capturing the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Use thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes to define the textures of the rocks and vegetation.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as small rocks and patches of grass, using a smaller brush.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · violet

Mix blues and whites for the sky and distant mountains. Use raw umber and burnt sienna to create earth tones, and add small amounts of blue or violet to cool the colors down for shadows.

techniques