plate no. 2406
Spring, Caribou Country
A.Y. Jackson, 1949
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, trees, and sky, focusing on composition.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using broad brushstrokes.
- step 03
Establish the background hills with darker greens and blues, varying the tones.
- step 04
Paint the foreground hills with lighter greens and browns, creating a sense of depth.
- step 05
Add the birch trees using white and light gray, capturing their verticality and slight curves.
- step 06
Introduce shadows and highlights on the trees and hills to create form.
- step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foreground, adding texture with dry brush techniques.
- step 08
Add final touches to the sky and background to balance the composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · sap green
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · payne's grey
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow ochre; create grays by mixing blue, white, and a touch of umber. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much detail in the background
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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