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home·artworks·Thun, Stockhornkette
Thun, Stockhornkette by Ferdinand Hodler

plate no. 3634

Thun, Stockhornkette

Ferdinand Hodler, 1904

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainslakeskywaterrockslandscape
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to represent distance. The repetitive water patterns also offer practice in creating consistent, yet varied, brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, mountains, water, and foreground.

  2. step 02

    Apply a thin wash of pale yellow and blue to the sky, blending softly.

  3. step 03

    Block in the mountain range with varying shades of blue, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.

  4. step 04

    Paint the lake with a base layer of light blue, gradually adding darker blues and greens to create depth and reflections.

  5. step 05

    Create the water patterns by dabbing small, oval shapes of blue and green across the lake surface, varying the size and spacing.

  6. step 06

    Add a thin yellow line where the mountains meet the lake.

  7. step 07

    Paint the foreground rocks with a mix of greens, browns, and blues, using short, broken brushstrokes.

  8. step 08

    Add final details and highlights to the mountains and water to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix blues with white to create various shades for the mountains and water. Combine yellow ochre and ultramarine blue to achieve the green tones for the water patterns and foreground rocks.

techniques

  • ·broken color
  • ·scumbling
  • ·atmospheric perspective
  • ·layering
  • ·dabbing

common pitfalls

  • →Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
  • →Making the water patterns too uniform and repetitive.
  • →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the mountains and water.
  • →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
  • ·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, viridian green, burnt umber)
  • ·palette
  • ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·odorless mineral spirits
  • ·palette knife

optional

  • ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
  • ·easel
  • ·rags

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas can help establish the base colors.

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oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
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