plate no. 3095
Washoe Wickiup
Maynard Dixon, 1919
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and broken color techniques to create a sense of depth and texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landforms.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, capturing the light and shadow variations in the clouds.
- step 03
Establish the distant mountains with a muted blue tone, creating atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Begin layering the foreground desert landscape with warm earth tones, varying the hues and values.
- step 05
Add the cacti and desert vegetation, using vertical strokes for the cacti and broken color for the bushes.
- step 06
Refine the details of the rock formations on the left side, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 07
Add highlights to the vegetation and rocks to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and values.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · sap green · cadmium yellow
Mix blues and whites for the sky, varying the proportions for different cloud tones. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the desert floor, adding white for highlights and ultramarine for shadows. Mix greens with yellows and blues for the vegetation, muting the colors with burnt sienna.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective, making the distant mountains too vibrant.
- →Creating overly uniform brushstrokes, lacking texture and variation.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source, resulting in a flat composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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