The Blue Rigi Lake of Lucerne Sunrise

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · white

Achieve the soft, atmospheric colors by heavily diluting the paints with water. Mix blues and yellows for greens, and add a touch of red to create muted purples and browns.

techniques

• ·wet-on-wet blending
• ·glazing
• ·atmospheric perspective
• ·color layering
• ·soft edges

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details and losing the sense of atmosphere.
• →Using colors that are too saturated and not diluted enough.
• →Creating hard edges that detract from the soft, diffused light.
• →Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the sky and water.