plate no. 0552

Sierra Nevada, Granada

Joaquín Sorolla, 1917

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapemountainsbuildinglandscapehillsskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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, hills, and building, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general proportions of the landscape.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, mountains, hills, building, and foliage.
step 04
Develop the atmospheric perspective by making the distant mountains cooler and lighter in value.
step 05
Add details to the building, using light and shadow to create form.
step 06
Refine the foliage with varied greens and expressive brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the snow-capped mountains and the building to create focal points.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall balance of color and value.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium orange · violet

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white and a touch of blue to the mountain colors.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·dry brush

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat painting.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the atmospheric effect.
→Neglecting the importance of edges and transitions between shapes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, sap green, cadmium orange)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags