plate no. 7668

Valle de México desde el Tepeyac

Jose Maria Velasco, 1906

oilRealismlandscapemountainslandscapebuildingstreesskyplains

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major elements like mountains and buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with light, muted colors, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Paint the middle ground plains, using a slightly darker and more saturated palette.
step 05
Add the details of the buildings and trees in the foreground, focusing on their shapes and shadows.
step 06
Refine the details of the foreground, adding texture and highlights to the ground and vegetation.
step 07
Add shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the colors and values to achieve a harmonious and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to create the base tones for the sky and distant mountains. Add small amounts of blue to cool the colors and create atmospheric perspective. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the foreground, adding touches of blue and white to create variations in tone and color.

techniques