plate no. 0893

Waipara Gorge, North Canterbury

Rita Angus, 1939

oilRegionalismlandscapemountainslandscapeskycloudswaterhills

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning about color mixing to achieve natural tones and practicing layering watercolor washes to create depth. Students can also improve their skills in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, hills, and water.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, leaving areas for clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a diluted brown/ochre mix.
step 04
Layer washes of green and brown for the hills, varying the intensity.
step 05
Add details to the mountains, such as shadows and rocky textures.
step 06
Paint the water with a mix of blue and green, creating subtle variations.
step 07
Add final details like small trees and highlights to the landscape.
step 08
Refine edges and add shadows to enhance depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · viridian green · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the earth tones. Add a touch of blue or umber to create shadows. Use plenty of water to achieve transparent washes.

techniques