plate no. 5767

The Mountain Einundfjell

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapelandscapemountainstreesskylakevegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the subtle variations of light in a landscape. It also provides practice in rendering realistic foliage with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, mountain range, and major tree groupings.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blues and pinks, blending softly.
step 03
Block in the mountain range with dark greens and blues, suggesting form with subtle value changes.
step 04
Lay in the base color for the foreground field using a mix of greens, browns, and yellows.
step 05
Add layers of textured brushstrokes to the foreground, varying the colors to create depth and interest.
step 06
Paint the trees, using darker greens and browns for the shadows and lighter greens for the highlights.
step 07
Add reflections in the water, mirroring the colors of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Titanium white · Burnt umber

secondary · Cadmium yellow · Alizarin crimson · Sap green

Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre with Prussian blue and a touch of burnt umber. Create the atmospheric sky by blending white with small amounts of blue and pink.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken color
·Layering
·Dry brushing
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors in the foreground, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth by not varying the colors and values in the landscape.
→Making the trees too uniform and symmetrical.
→Neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Yellow ochre, Titanium white, Burnt umber, Cadmium yellow, Alizarin crimson, Sap green)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags