plate no. 8453

View from Koli

Eero Järnefelt, 1923

oilRealismlandscapelandscapetreesmountainslakefoliagesky

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 depict distance. It will also teach them how to create a sense of movement and energy through expressive brushstrokes.

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 placement of the mountains, lake, and main tree.
step 02
Establish the sky with light blues and pinks, blending softly.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with muted greens and blues, using lighter values for areas further away.
step 04
Layer the foliage in the midground with a mix of greens, yellows, and oranges, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the main tree, paying attention to the twisting branches and texture of the bark.
step 06
Add details to the foreground foliage, using darker greens and more defined brushstrokes.
step 07
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · titanium white

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and create muted tones by adding small amounts of burnt sienna to your colors. Use white to create lighter values and atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·dry brushing
·layering
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a flat and unrealistic landscape.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Not allowing enough drying time between layers, leading to muddy colors.