plate no. 8259

Storm in the Belt (Strait in northeast Denmark)

oil, woodRomanticismlandscapestormcloudscowssheephouselandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, value control, and rendering soft, diffused light. It's also a good exercise in painting animals in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major shapes: sky, land, water, house, and animal groupings.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the storm clouds and the shadows on the land and house.
step 03
Paint the sky using thin washes of color, blending the tones to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Add the distant mountains and water, paying attention to atmospheric perspective (lighter and less detailed in the distance).
step 05
Block in the general shapes and values of the animals, focusing on their overall form rather than individual details.
step 06
Develop the details of the house, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Refine the details of the animals, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and drama.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve the stormy sky by mixing ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white in varying proportions. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to create the warm tones of the land and house. Add ivory black to darken shadows.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·value blocking
·soft blending
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Not creating enough depth in the sky.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags