plate no. 6694

Valley Road

Marsden Hartley, 1920

oilExpressionismlandscapemountainsvalleyroadskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive color mixing and bold brushstroke techniques to convey form and emotion. It also encourages simplification of complex landscapes into basic shapes and color blocks.

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, valley, and road, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of yellow and orange.
step 03
Establish the dark mountain masses with a mix of black and blue.
step 04
Apply the red and pink tones to the valley and foreground, varying the intensity.
step 05
Add touches of yellow to the road and highlights on the mountains.
step 06
Define the edges of the shapes with bold brushstrokes, using darker colors.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the color balance to match the original.
step 08
Add final touches to the foreground and sky.

color palette

primary · red · black · yellow

secondary · blue · orange · white

Mix red with white for various shades of pink. Use black and blue to create deep shadows. Mix yellow and orange for the sky. Add white to lighten any color.

techniques