plate no. 9757

Three Tetons

oilRomanticismlandscapemountainslaketreesrocksskywater

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering. They will also learn to mix subtle color variations to represent light and shadow in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, lake, and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with soft, blended colors, paying attention to the light source.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with light, cool tones to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Paint the middle ground trees and foliage, using varying shades of green and brown.
step 05
Add details to the foreground rocks and water, capturing the texture and reflections.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows on the mountains and trees to create depth.
step 07
Add final details to the water, including ripples and reflections.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, and use white to create lighter values. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding blue to distant colors.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·blending
·glazing
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground before establishing the background.
→Using too much pure color without mixing subtle variations.
→Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
→Ignoring the light source and its effect on the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (viridian green, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, raw sienna)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags