plate no. 3880

View of Matang and River, Sarawak, Borneo

oilNaturalismlandscapetreesrivermountainsskytropicallandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering to create depth. It also provides practice in painting foliage and creating a sense of light and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, mountains, river, and major tree placements.
step 02
Establish the sky with soft, blended washes of light yellow, pink, and blue.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with diluted blues and purples, creating atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Block in the general shapes of the trees and foliage with varying shades of green.
step 05
Add details to the trees, focusing on the shapes of the leaves and branches.
step 06
Paint the river with reflections of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · sap green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow light

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and vary the tones with touches of burnt umber or white. Use white to lighten the blues and purples for the distant mountains. Achieve the sky colors by diluting the primary colors with white.

techniques