plate no. 6429

Welsh Landscape

Augustus John, 1914

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainslandscaperivergrassskyclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and forms. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, hills, and river.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending softly.
step 03
Apply a base layer of yellow ochre to the hills and mountain, varying the tone slightly.
step 04
Add darker shades of brown and green to define the shadows and contours of the hills.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create the texture of the grass and vegetation.
step 06
Paint the river with blues, greens, and browns, reflecting the surrounding landscape.
step 07
Add highlights to the water and vegetation to create a sense of light and depth.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix yellow ochre with small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create the various shades of brown and green. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques