plate no. 3238

San Leandro Bay

oilTonalismlandscapelandscapeskytreesfieldhorizon

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning atmospheric perspective and subtle color mixing to create depth. It also provides practice in creating a sense of mood through tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and major land divisions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray-blue.
step 03
Establish the distant landmasses with muted greens and blues, using a lighter value than the foreground.
step 04
Paint the middle ground trees with darker greens and browns, softening the edges.
step 05
Block in the foreground field with a mix of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of green.
step 06
Add subtle variations in color and value to the field to suggest texture and form.
step 07
Refine the sky, adding subtle cloud formations and variations in tone.
step 08
Add final details to the trees and foreground, paying attention to edges and atmospheric perspective.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · Prussian blue

secondary · sap green · raw sienna

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and graying colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques