plate no. 1916

October Morning, Algoma (Wartz Lake)

A.Y. Jackson, 1920

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapelaketreesmountainsskylandscapeautumn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, and in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in capturing the mood of a specific season.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into foreground, middle ground, and background.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main shapes of the mountains and lake.
step 03
Block in the sky with a thin wash of grey and white.
step 04
Apply a base layer of color to the lake, mixing greens and browns.
step 05
Paint the distant mountains with muted blues and purples to create atmospheric perspective.
step 06
Add the autumn foliage using a variety of oranges, yellows, and reds.
step 07
Paint the foreground with darker browns and reds, adding details to the rocks and dead trees.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw sienna

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the mountains. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red for the autumn foliage. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the sky and lake.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not simplifying the complex landscape into basic shapes.