plate no. 7986

Oraibi, Hopi village, Arizona

oilTonalismlandscapelandscapeskymesahillscloudsplains

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing for atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth and subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the mesa and hills.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, blending slightly to create subtle variations.
step 03
Paint the distant hills with a darker, muted blue-green to establish depth.
step 04
Block in the mesa with a mixture of yellow ochre and burnt sienna, varying the tones to suggest form.
step 05
Add highlights to the mesa using lighter yellows and whites, focusing on areas where the sun would hit.
step 06
Paint the foreground with a mix of greens, yellows, and browns, blending the colors to create a sense of distance.
step 07
Add subtle details to the mesa, such as shadows and rock formations.
step 08
Refine the sky and clouds, adding subtle variations in color and tone.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · raw umber

Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the mesa, varying the proportions to create different tones. Add raw umber to darken the greens and browns in the foreground.

techniques