plate no. 3750
The Hill of the Creeping Shadow, Flinders Ranges
Hans Heysen, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve earthy tones and practice layering to create depth in a landscape. It also offers practice in depicting subtle variations in light and shadow on uneven terrain.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and foreground, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish a light blue/beige tone for the sky.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the mountains and foreground using thinned washes.
- step 04
Begin layering darker tones to define shadows and create form.
- step 05
Add highlights to suggest sunlight and create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Refine the details of the vegetation and textures in the foreground.
- step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and adjust the overall tone.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to emphasize the focal point.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · raw umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create various shades of brown and gray. Use yellow ochre and white to create highlights on the hills. Add alizarin crimson to burnt sienna for warmer tones in the foreground.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground.
- →Creating mud by overmixing colors.
- →Failing to establish a strong sense of depth.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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