plate no. 7658

South American Landscape

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapemountainslaketreespalm treesbridgesky

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering. Students will also learn to mix subtle color variations to depict light and shadow in a 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, paying attention to the placement of the mountains, lake, and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light wash of yellow and blue, blending to create soft clouds.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted browns and greens, using lighter values for areas closer to the horizon.
step 04
Paint the mid-ground foliage and the bridge, gradually adding more detail and darker values.
step 05
Develop the foreground trees and vegetation with a variety of greens and browns, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Add reflections in the lake, using slightly darker and desaturated versions of the colors above.
step 07
Refine the details of the palm trees and other foliage, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

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

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·wet-on-dry blending
·broken color
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the distant mountains, which should remain soft and muted.
→Using too much bright green, which can make the painting look unnatural.
→Failing to create a sense of depth by not varying the values and colors in the different planes.
→Not paying attention to the direction of light, which can make the painting look flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, sap green)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags