plate no. 6048

Sainte-Victoire Mountain

Othon Friesz, 1906

oilFauvismlandscapemountainstreeslandscapeskypathhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey form and texture. It's also a good exercise in color mixing and understanding how to create depth using color temperature.

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 of the mountains, hills, and path, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, leaving some areas unpainted for later cloud details.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the mountains and hills, using a mix of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 04
Define the path with a warm yellow-ochre color, varying the tone to suggest depth and perspective.
step 05
Add details to the trees and foliage using short, broken brushstrokes of various greens and yellows.
step 06
Introduce darker greens and browns to create shadows and define the forms of the trees and hills.
step 07
Add highlights to the foliage and mountains using lighter shades of yellow and green.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · titanium white

Mix greens by combining viridian green with cadmium yellow and white. Achieve earth tones by blending burnt umber with yellow ochre and small amounts of blue or green.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·color temperature
·simplification of form
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→overworking the painting
→getting bogged down in details
→not simplifying the forms enough
→muddying the colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, viridian green, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, titanium white)
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·mineral spirits
·rags