plate no. 8234

Riverbed, Waiau

Rita Angus, 1932

oilRegionalismlandscapemountainsriverbedlandscapetreeshillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex landscapes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in mixing muted color tones and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountains, hills, riverbed, and foreground.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and major divisions of the landscape.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of light blue for the sky, allowing it to dry.
step 04
Paint the distant mountains with a muted reddish-brown, using lighter values for the peaks.
step 05
Block in the large areas of the riverbed with varying shades of light blue and beige.
step 06
Add details to the hills and foreground, including trees, buildings, and fences.
step 07
Refine the details and add shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · light blue · beige · reddish-brown · yellow ochre

secondary · gray · green

Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, red and green). Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques