plate no. 7317

Valley of the Gouffre River

A.Y. Jackson, 1933

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapemountainssnowbuildingslandscapeskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict light and shadow on a snow-covered landscape and practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It will also teach them how to use color temperature to create depth and dimension.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, hills, and buildings, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending it smoothly.
step 04
Apply a base layer of white mixed with yellow ochre to the snow-covered areas.
step 05
Add shadows to the snow using mixtures of blue, purple, and brown.
step 06
Paint the mountains with dark browns, blues, and purples, adding highlights with lighter tones.
step 07
Add the buildings and trees, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · violet · sap green

Mix white with yellow ochre for the base snow color. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create a range of browns and grays for the mountains and shadows. Add cadmium red to browns for warmer tones in the buildings.

techniques