plate no. 6593
Saint Anton (Flat Light)
Peter Doig, 1996
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create subtle variations and atmospheric perspective to depict depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic mountain shape and the placement of major elements like trees and ski lifts.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted white or light beige as a base layer for the entire canvas.
- step 03
Begin layering in subtle color variations for the snow using light pinks, blues, and yellows, focusing on capturing the 'flat light' effect.
- step 04
Paint the trees using dark greens and browns, varying the size and shape of each tree for a natural look.
- step 05
Add the ski lifts and other structures using thin lines and simplified shapes.
- step 06
Introduce the small figures in the foreground with minimal detail, using red and other bright colors for contrast.
- step 07
Refine the details and add subtle textures to the snow and trees using dry brush techniques.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Achieve the subtle snow colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, pink, and yellow. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue to create a range of dark greens for the trees.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of simplicity.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the 'flat light' effect.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
- →Making the trees too uniform in size and shape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-grain canvas for a good balance of texture and smoothness. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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