plate no. 1068

Mysterious Landscape

Tove Jansson, 1930

oilExpressionismlandscapemountainstreesbuildingslandscapefoliagenight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques to create depth and explore a limited color palette to establish a specific mood. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

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 buildings, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Apply a dark blue/black base layer for the sky and mountains.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of color, such as the blue-green for the foliage and the red for the tree.
step 04
Add highlights to the trees and buildings using lighter shades of blue and white.
step 05
Define the edges of the mountains and buildings with darker lines.
step 06
Paint the details of the foliage and the small building in the distance.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the path and the small figure in the foreground.
step 08
Refine the colors and values to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · black · white

secondary · red · yellow ochre · teal

Mix Prussian blue and black to create the dark tones for the mountains and sky. Add white to the blue for highlights on the trees and buildings. Mix red and yellow ochre for the red tree.

techniques