plate no. 6916
The Jungfrau, Switzerland
Alexandre Calame, 1855
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic rock and water textures. It also provides practice in capturing the effects of light and shadow in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic mountain shapes and the foreground composition.
- step 02
Block in the sky and cloud formations with light washes.
- step 03
Establish the dark and light areas on the mountains, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the mountains, focusing on texture and form.
- step 05
Paint the foreground rocks and foliage, varying the greens and browns.
- step 06
Add the flowing water, using white and light blue to create highlights.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix various shades of green by combining blue, yellow, and brown. Achieve the atmospheric haze by adding white to the mountain colors. Use thin washes for the sky and thicker paint for the foreground.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Not establishing a clear light source.
- →Using too much green without variation.
- →Failing to create depth in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 filbert brush
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-tinting the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber can help create a warm undertone.
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