plate no. 8658

View of the Matterhorn

oil, paper, canvasRomanticismlandscapemountainstreesskylandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It will also improve their ability to mix subtle color variations to represent natural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, trees, and foreground.
step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the major value areas of the mountains, using lighter tones for highlights and darker tones for shadows.
step 04
Layer in the mid-ground hills, paying attention to atmospheric perspective by making them less defined and cooler in color.
step 05
Paint the trees in the foreground, adding details to the foliage with varied greens and browns.
step 06
Add details to the foreground foliage and rocks, using short brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the mountain, adding highlights and shadows to define the peaks and ridges.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix white with small amounts of umber and blue for the sky. Use umber and sienna for the mountains, adding white for highlights and crimson for shadows. Mix greens from blue, yellow ochre, and umber for the trees.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Using too much pure color without mixing, which can make the painting look unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes in the mountains, which can make them look flat.
→Not establishing a clear light source, which can make the painting look confusing.