plate no. 8425
Paisaje del pico de la Maliciosa. Madrid
Rubén de Luis, 2022
some experience helpful
This painting provides a good opportunity to practice layering techniques and capturing the texture of natural elements with visible brushstrokes. Students can learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and use color variations to create depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, trees, and sky, paying attention to proportions and composition.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin layer of light blue, allowing for variations in tone.
- step 03
Block in the mountain masses with mixtures of white, brown, and gray, indicating the snow-covered areas and rocky slopes.
- step 04
Define the dark green areas of the distant trees with broad strokes, varying the green tones.
- step 05
Start building up the foreground trees, using a mix of greens, yellows, and browns to create foliage.
- step 06
Add small touches of orange to represent the fruit on the trees.
- step 07
Refine the details of the mountain and trees, adding highlights and shadows to create form and texture.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall balance of the painting.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · burnt umber · sap green
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange
Mix different shades of green by combining sap green with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Achieve the mountain's gray tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt umber and blue. Use white to lighten the blues and greens.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·broken color
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for good paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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