plate no. 1737

Notturno

Luigi Russolo, 1945

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapemountainstreesskysunset

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning about atmospheric perspective and creating depth using color and value. Students will also practice simplifying shapes and creating silhouettes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the mountains and trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of dark blue at the top to yellow-green near the horizon.
step 03
Paint the mountains as a dark silhouette.
step 04
Add subtle variations of dark blues and greens to the mountain silhouette to suggest form.
step 05
Paint the foreground with a dark green-blue, slightly lighter than the mountains.
step 06
Add the tree silhouettes in the foreground, varying their size and shape.
step 07
Add subtle highlights to the trees and foreground to suggest light.
step 08
Refine the edges of the mountains and trees for a cleaner look.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Black

secondary · Viridian green · Titanium white

Mix Prussian blue and yellow ochre to create various shades of green. Add black to darken colors and titanium white to lighten them. Use more yellow ochre near the horizon for a sunset glow.

techniques

·Color blending
·Silhouetting
·Atmospheric perspective
·Layering

common pitfalls

→Making the colors too bright and unrealistic.
→Not creating enough contrast between the sky and the mountains.
→Overworking the details in the trees.
→Making the horizon line perfectly straight.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints (Prussian blue, Yellow ochre, Black, Viridian green, Titanium white)
·Round brushes (#4, #8)
·Flat brush (#6)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Rags