plate no. 0155

September Snow on Mount Schaffer

J. E. H. MacDonald, 1929

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainssnowtreesskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use color temperature to depict light and shadow, and how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and landscape, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue.
step 03
Establish the main shadow areas on the mountains with a darker blue-purple mix.
step 04
Add the lighter areas of snow using white mixed with blues and purples, varying the temperature.
step 05
Paint the treeline, using short vertical strokes of dark green and brown.
step 06
Add details to the snow and rocks, using dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final details, such as the small cloud.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and whites for the sky and snow. Use burnt umber with blue to create the darker mountain shadows. Add touches of cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson to warm the shadows and create variations in the snow.

techniques

·dry brush
·color mixing
·blocking in
·scumbling
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which can flatten the image.
→Using too much white, which can make the snow look chalky.
→Not varying the color temperature enough, which can make the mountains look monotonous.
→Losing the overall structure of the composition in the details.