plate no. 2531

Storm Clouds, Maine

Marsden Hartley, 1906

oilPointillismlandscapecloudslandscapetreesskymountainslight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in pointillism and layering colors to create depth and texture. It also provides practice in capturing atmospheric effects and light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the clouds and mountain.
step 02
Establish the darkest values in the sky and the shadows on the mountain using a dark blue or indigo.
step 03
Begin layering dots of color in the sky, using varying shades of blue, green, and white to create the cloud formations.
step 04
Apply dots of color to the mountain and foreground, using a base of dark blue and adding greens, browns, and yellows to represent the trees and vegetation.
step 05
Create the areas of light in the foreground by applying dots of yellow, orange, and light brown.
step 06
Refine the details in the clouds and the foreground, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Step back and assess the overall balance of the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the colors and values.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and apply a varnish to protect the surface.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding touches of green for cloud shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the light areas in the foreground, and mix blues and greens for the mountain.

techniques

·pointillism
·layering
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, which can result in muddy tones.
→Applying dots too uniformly, which can create a flat and lifeless effect.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast, which can make the painting lack depth.
→Not allowing enough drying time between layers, which can cause colors to blend together.