plate no. 9703

Valle de México

oilMagic Realismlandscapemountainslandscapeskybuildinghillsreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering to create depth. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations to depict light and shadow on mountainous forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and the building, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general layout of the foreground.
step 03
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, blending it smoothly.
step 04
Begin layering the mountains, starting with the furthest ones and working forward, using progressively darker and warmer tones.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes of the mountains above.
step 06
Add details to the foreground hills and the building, using a smaller brush.
step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix blues and whites for the sky and distant mountains. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the foreground hills, adding white to lighten and blue to cool the tones. Create the mountain shadows by mixing ultramarine blue and burnt umber.

techniques

·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·blending
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat painting.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the atmospheric perspective.
→Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the mountains.