plate no. 7116

Zoroaster Peak (Grand Canyon, Arizona)

Thomas Moran, 1918

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapecanyonmountainswatertreesrockslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth and dimension. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of rocks and foliage with varied brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the canyon walls, mountains, and water, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and distant mountains.
step 04
Gradually build up the layers of color in the canyon walls, using a variety of warm and cool tones.
step 05
Add details to the rocks and foliage, using smaller brushes and varied brushstrokes.
step 06
Create atmospheric perspective by making distant objects lighter and less detailed.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the colors and values.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix warm browns and oranges for the canyon walls, using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and alizarin crimson. Create cool blues and greens for the sky and water by mixing ultramarine blue, titanium white, and a touch of viridian green.

techniques