plate no. 2378
Southwest Canyon, Arizona
Paul Wonner, 1965
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blocking in shapes with simplified color and understanding the effects of light and shadow on a landscape. It also encourages simplification of detail and expressive brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the canyon, river, and horizon line, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, distant land, canyon walls, river, and foreground.
- step 03
Establish the light source and begin adding shadows to the canyon walls and foreground.
- step 04
Refine the shapes and colors of the canyon walls, adding subtle variations in tone.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground vegetation, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 06
Define the river's edge and add highlights to the water's surface.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · sap green
secondary · titanium white · burnt umber
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and adjust with white. Achieve the canyon wall colors by mixing alizarin crimson with white and small amounts of ultramarine blue. Use burnt umber to darken greens and create shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·color mixing
- ·broken brushstrokes
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground vegetation.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the canyon walls.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 6, 10)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better paint adhesion. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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