plate no. 9470
Study of Sunlight, County Kerry
Norman Ackroyd, 2008
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through value changes. It also provides practice in rendering complex shapes with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and the horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values in the foreground and the mountain peaks.
- step 03
Begin layering lighter values to create the atmospheric perspective and cloud formations.
- step 04
Add details to the mountain range, focusing on the shapes and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the flock of birds, varying their sizes and positions to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, suggesting the water and reflections.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a cohesive and atmospheric scene.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · payne's gray
Achieve the various shades of gray by mixing black and white in different proportions. Add small amounts of raw umber or payne's gray to create warmer or cooler tones.
techniques
- ·value studies
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, which can flatten the image.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background.
- →Making the bird shapes too uniform and static.
- →Using too much paint, which can obscure the subtle value changes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Consider using a toned canvas to establish a mid-value base.
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