plate no. 6364

A Temple of Vesta

oilRomanticismlandscapebuildingruinshillskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details with loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building and the hill.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and raw sienna to the entire paper to create a warm undertone.
step 03
Begin layering washes of diluted blue and grey for the sky, allowing some of the underpainting to show through.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with a very diluted blue-grey wash.
step 05
Add washes of grey, yellow ochre, and burnt umber to the hill, building up the form and shadows.
step 06
Use a fine brush to add details to the building, such as the columns, arches, and windows.
step 07
Add darker washes of green and brown to the foreground to create depth and texture.
step 08
Finish by adding subtle highlights with a slightly lighter wash.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · grey · light red

Mix various shades of grey by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Dilute colors extensively with water to achieve the desired transparency.

techniques

·layering washes
·dry brush
·atmospheric perspective
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes and losing transparency.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Not allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
→Getting the proportions of the building wrong.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, burnt umber)
·Round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil
·Eraser

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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