plate no. 5492
Novembersonne am Untersee
Adolf Dietrich, 1941
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in rendering a landscape with a limited palette and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms and focus on capturing the overall mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the horizon line and major elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
- step 03
Add the distant hills and the closer landmass, gradually building up the details.
- step 04
Paint the buildings and trees, focusing on their simplified forms.
- step 05
Add the details of the foreground, including the benches, plants, and the dog.
- step 06
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · cadmium red light
Mix the sky color by gradually adding white to cerulean blue. Use raw umber and yellow ochre for the land, adjusting the proportions to create different shades. Mix red with white for the benches.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall simplicity of the painting.
- →Using too much detail in the distant elements.
- →Not paying attention to the atmospheric perspective, which flattens the image.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·retarder medium
Use a canvas with a smooth surface for best results. Acrylic paints are recommended for their quick drying time and ease of use.
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