plate no. 8200

The River Kiðá in Húsafellskógur

Asgrimur Jonsson, 1953

oilPost-Impressionismlandscaperivermountainstreeslandscapebuildingssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in applying thick, expressive brushstrokes and understanding how to create depth through color and value changes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, mountains, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and mountains, then the water and land.
step 03
Add darker values to create shadows and define the forms of the mountains, trees, and buildings.
step 04
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to add texture and detail to the water, especially the white water.
step 05
Introduce secondary colors to add depth and interest to the landscape.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the buildings and trees, using smaller brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the water and buildings to create a sense of light and reflection.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt sienna · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · raw umber

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding small amounts of red or yellow to adjust the temperature. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for earth tones, mixing with white to create lighter shades. Green is achieved by mixing blue and yellow.

techniques