plate no. 1410

North Greenland Fiord, Gray Day

Rockwell Kent, 1933

oilAmerican Realismlandscapemountainswaterskycloudslandscapeiceberg

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create subtle tonal variations. It also provides practice in simplifying 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, water, and sky, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Establish a base layer for the sky using light purples and grays, blending the colors horizontally.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with cool blues and grays, gradually darkening the values as they come forward.
step 04
Block in the large mountain masses on either side with dark browns and purples, leaving highlights for later.
step 05
Paint the water with a mix of browns, grays, and purples, reflecting the colors of the sky and mountains.
step 06
Add details to the mountains, such as snow caps and rock formations, using lighter values and subtle color variations.
step 07
Refine the sky with more layers of color, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the water and foreground to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · purple · yellow ochre

Mix browns and blues for the mountains, adding white for highlights. Use white and blue with a touch of yellow ochre for the sky. Mix browns, blues, and purples for the water.

techniques