plate no. 5495
North Northwest
Ivan Eyre, 1980
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance. It also encourages patience and precision in applying small, repetitive brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the hills and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of light blue.
- step 03
Begin layering in the distant hills, using progressively darker and cooler blues as they recede.
- step 04
Block in the mid-ground areas with a base layer of muted greens and browns.
- step 05
Start adding details to the foreground trees and bushes, using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
- step 06
Introduce highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the details and textures throughout the painting.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Mix blues with white to create the atmospheric perspective. Use raw umber and viridian green to create muted greens for the foliage. Add small amounts of yellow ochre to warm up the greens.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·pointillism
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, making the painting appear unnatural.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of atmospheric perspective.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a flat, uniform texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 0-4)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 2-6)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. Consider using a retarder medium to slow down the drying time of the acrylics.
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