plate no. 8218

Soldiers At Rest

oilRomanticismlandscapelandscapemountainsskyfigureswatercamp

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as capturing the texture of rocks and foliage with varied brushstrokes. Students can develop their skills in depicting light and shadow across a complex landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, mountain shapes, and the location of the figures and water.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of blues and grays, blending to create cloud formations.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the mountains using browns, grays, and ochre, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Add details to the mountains, using dry brush techniques to create texture and suggest rocky surfaces.
step 05
Paint the foreground with greens and browns, indicating the grassy areas and the water's edge.
step 06
Add the figures and horses around the campfire, using small brushstrokes and dark tones.
step 07
Create the reflection in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes of the foreground.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Umber · Titanium White

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Cadmium Red · Payne's Gray

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining Burnt Umber, Prussian Blue, and Titanium White. Use Yellow Ochre to warm up the browns and create highlights. Mix small amounts of Cadmium Red with Burnt Umber to create the fire glow.

techniques

·Dry brushing
·Layering
·Scumbling
·Atmospheric perspective
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a clear light source.
→Using too much paint and losing the texture.
→Not blending colors sufficiently, resulting in a choppy appearance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red, Payne's Gray)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife