plate no. 6051

Snow Peaks and Blossoms

William H. Johnson, 1938

oilExpressionismlandscapemountainsskytreesflowerslandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing expressive brushwork and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. Students will learn to capture the essence of a landscape with bold strokes and limited color mixing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, trees, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, creating a sense of atmosphere.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the mountains using browns and blues.
step 04
Paint the foreground with greens and yellows, focusing on capturing the texture of the foliage.
step 05
Add the blossoms with thick, impasto strokes of white, pink, and yellow.
step 06
Define the tree trunks and branches with dark browns and blacks.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue. Create variations in the mountain colors by mixing brown with blue and white. Achieve the blossom colors by mixing white with small amounts of pink and yellow.

techniques