plate no. 3349

Wide Lands of the Navajo

Maynard Dixon, 1945

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapehorsescloudsskymountainsfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the mountains and clouds.
step 02
Establish the sky with a gradient of light blue, blending towards the horizon.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the clouds with white and subtle shadows using gray and lavender.
step 04
Paint the distant mountains, using cooler, muted tones to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Establish the foreground with warm browns and yellows, adding details to the vegetation.
step 06
Paint the horses and riders, paying attention to their relative scale and placement within the scene.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the horses and riders to give them form.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve the sky color by mixing cerulean blue with white, adding a touch of yellow ochre near the horizon. Mix browns and earth tones for the landscape using burnt sienna, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Use alizarin crimson to create the red in the canyon.

techniques