plate no. 7834
Smart River (Alaska)
A.Y. Jackson, 1945
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: mountains, shoreline, ice floes, and tree silhouettes.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light yellow-orange wash.
- step 03
Paint the mountain range with a flat blue tone.
- step 04
Add the dark tree line behind the mountains.
- step 05
Fill in the water with a base of yellow-green, varying the tones.
- step 06
Paint the ice floes with white and gray tones, adding shadows.
- step 07
Add the dark tree silhouettes in the foreground.
- step 08
Refine details and add highlights to the water and ice.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · sap green · gray
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create various shades of gray by mixing burnt umber and titanium white. Use white to lighten the blues and yellows for highlights.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·silhouette painting
- ·simplified shapes
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure.
- →Making the water appear flat.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·acrylic paints
- ·palette
- ·water container
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·retarder medium
Acrylic paints are recommended for their quick drying time and ease of use. Consider using a retarder medium to extend the drying time for easier blending.
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