plate no. 7407

Steam Train Rounding a Bend

oilMagic Realismlandscapelandscapetraintreeshillsrailroadsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and understanding how to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes. It also provides practice in rendering textures with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: hills, train tracks, trees, and the train.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the train tracks.
step 03
Block in the sky with a thin wash of muted grey-brown.
step 04
Begin layering the hills with light ochre and white, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 05
Add darker tones to the shadows of the hills, using a mix of burnt umber and ochre.
step 06
Paint the train and trees with darker values, paying attention to their simplified forms.
step 07
Add details like the telephone pole, fence posts, and the figure in the train.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray

Achieve the muted tones by mixing ochre with white and small amounts of burnt umber. Use Payne's gray for the darker areas of the train and trees, adjusting with ochre to avoid pure black.

techniques