plate no. 7164

Sketch for Central Otago (Cecil Peak, Arrowtown)

Rita Angus, 1953

oilRegionalismlandscapemountainshillsskycloudstreeslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, hills, and foreground.
step 02
Apply a light wash of yellow to the foreground.
step 03
Paint the sky with diluted blues and grays, creating soft cloud shapes.
step 04
Layer washes of yellow, orange, and green on the hills, varying the intensity for depth.
step 05
Paint the distant mountains with cool grays and blues, using a lighter value than the foreground.
step 06
Add details like trees and bushes with darker greens and browns.
step 07
Glaze shadows on the foreground with a diluted purple or gray.
step 08
Refine edges and add final details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · sap green

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and cerulean blue. Create grays by mixing ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. Dilute colors significantly for transparent washes.

techniques