plate no. 6344
Sevan in the morning
Sedrak Arakelyan, 1940
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water using broken color techniques. It also provides practice in depicting geological forms and vegetation with simplified shapes and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the cliff, and the general areas of the water and sky.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color for the sky, water, and landmass.
- step 03
Develop the sky with subtle gradations of color to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Render the water using broken color techniques to suggest movement and reflections.
- step 05
Define the shapes and textures of the rocks and cliff using a variety of brushstrokes and color variations.
- step 06
Add details to the vegetation, paying attention to the interplay of light and shadow.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition and color harmony, making adjustments as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the sense of realism.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian
Achieve the muted tones of the water and sky by mixing blues, whites, and touches of earth tones. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm tones of the rocks and cliff, and add touches of green for the vegetation.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →overblending colors in the water, losing the sense of movement
- →making the rocks too uniform in color and texture
- →neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky
- →overworking details early in the process
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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