plate no. 1121

Mt. Strútur, W.-Iceland, a Storm Approaching

Asgrimur Jonsson, 1915

oilImpressionismlandscapemountaintreescloudslandscaperocksstorm

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in wet-on-wet watercolor techniques and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountain, foreground, and cloud formations.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the foreground, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
While the foreground is still wet, drop in darker shades of burnt sienna and umber to create shadows and texture for the rocks.
step 04
Paint the mountain with a mix of ultramarine blue and a touch of burnt umber, varying the intensity for depth.
step 05
Use a wet-on-wet technique to create the clouds with diluted Payne's gray and white, allowing the colors to blend softly.
step 06
Add details to the trees with a small brush, using a mix of green and brown, and suggest foliage with dabs and strokes.
step 07
Strengthen the shadows and add final details to the rocks and foreground to create depth and definition.
step 08
Allow to dry completely and assess the painting, adding final touches as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · Payne's gray · raw umber · white

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the mountain. Use varying dilutions of yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the foreground. Payne's gray and white create the storm clouds.

techniques

·Wet-on-wet blending
·Layering washes
·Dry brush texture
·Color mixing
·Atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground.
→Using too much water, which can lead to uncontrolled blooms.
→Making the mountain too dark, losing the sense of distance.
→Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more washes.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, Payne's gray, raw umber, white)
·Round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Masking tape