plate no. 6909

Rhythmic landscape on Lake Geneva

Ferdinand Hodler, 1908

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapelakeskycloudsmountainswaterlandscape

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning about layering colors to create depth and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying a landscape into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, mountain range, and cloud placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, creating a gradient from top to bottom.
step 03
Paint the mountain range using a mix of browns, yellows, and oranges.
step 04
Add the green strip of land between the mountains and the lake.
step 05
Lay in the base color for the lake, a light blue-gray.
step 06
Add horizontal strokes of darker blue and white to represent reflections.
step 07
Paint the foreground with yellows and greens, adding small details of vegetation.
step 08
Add final touches to the clouds, highlighting with white and defining edges.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · ultramarine blue

Mix blues and white for the sky and water. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the mountains. Mix greens from blue and yellow.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·horizontal brushstrokes
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Making the reflections too uniform and losing the sense of movement.
→Not establishing a clear value range, making the painting appear flat.
→Getting the proportions of the landscape elements wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·varnish

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics are faster drying and easier to clean up, while oils offer richer colors and blending capabilities.

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