plate no. 3873

The Dents Blanches in Champéry at the morning sun

Ferdinand Hodler, 1916

oil, canvasSymbolismlandscapemountainsskylandscapesnowfield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, as well as practice applying expressive brushstrokes to define form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic mountain shapes and horizon line with light pencil.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue paint.
step 03
Establish the main dark and light areas on the mountains using a limited palette of blues, purples, and oranges.
step 04
Begin layering colors to define the planes of the mountains, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Add details like snow patches and shadows with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the foreground field with a mix of greens and yellows, using broken color to create texture.
step 07
Refine the edges of the mountains and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add the signature.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Mix blues and purples for the shadows on the mountains. Use yellow and orange to create highlights. Mix greens and yellows for the field.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, which can flatten the image.
→Not paying attention to the direction of light, which can make the mountains look unrealistic.
→Using too much detail in the foreground, which can distract from the mountains.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and mountains.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, titanium white, alizarin crimson, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits