plate no. 5609

Yosemite Falls

oilRomanticismlandscapemountainswaterfalltreesriverskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures of rocks, trees, and water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, waterfall, and river.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant mountain values with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the mountains, using a range of browns and grays.
step 04
Begin adding details to the rock faces, using dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 05
Paint the waterfall with varying shades of white and gray, suggesting movement.
step 06
Add the trees and foliage in the foreground, using darker greens and browns.
step 07
Reflect the landscape in the river, paying attention to the color and value relationships.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Mix browns and grays by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create highlights on the rocks and trees. Mix viridian green and alizarin crimson to create darker greens for the foliage.

techniques