plate no. 7472
The Narrows at Rosneath and the Gareloch
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in rendering floral details and soft, diffused light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, mountains, water, and placement of the major floral masses.
- step 02
Establish the sky and water with thin washes of color, focusing on the subtle gradations of value and hue.
- step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted greens and blues, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Begin layering in the foliage and flowers, starting with the darker greens and purples in the shadows.
- step 05
Add highlights to the flowers and foliage using lighter shades of pink, white, and green.
- step 06
Refine the details of the flowers and foliage, using smaller brushes to create individual petals and leaves.
- step 07
Add the small details like the building and boats in the distance.
- step 08
Glaze over the painting with thin washes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · raw umber
Mix greens by blending cerulean blue and yellow ochre, and adjust with raw umber for darker shades. Achieve the pinks and purples by mixing alizarin crimson with titanium white and ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·soft blending
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground before establishing the background.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a painting that lacks atmospheric perspective.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth by not varying the values and colors in the landscape.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform, which can flatten the image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for layering and blending. Consider pre-toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber to create a warm undertone.
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