plate no. 9635
The Blairie Burn, Glen Moriston
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing loose brushwork to suggest textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the river.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue wash.
- step 03
Establish the distant hills with a muted blue-green.
- step 04
Add the darker masses of the trees and foliage, using a mix of browns, greens, and reds.
- step 05
Paint the river, capturing the reflections of the sky and surrounding trees.
- step 06
Develop the foreground with details of rocks, foliage, and the riverbank.
- step 07
Refine the details of the trees, adding branches and leaves with varied brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green
Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt sienna. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors as they recede into the distance.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Making the colors too saturated and bright.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough to suggest different textures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a limited palette to achieve color harmony. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
