plate no. 2395
A view of Waterloo Bridge, with St. Paul's in the distance
John O'Connor, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting architectural details and creating a sense of depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major shapes: bridge, buildings, tower, and water.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the scene.
- step 03
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft cloud formations.
- step 04
Paint the distant buildings and bridge with muted colors to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Add the tower and the main building, focusing on their architectural details and shadows.
- step 06
Block in the water with a base color, then add reflections of the buildings and boats.
- step 07
Paint the boats and figures in the foreground, adding details and highlights.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the sky, buildings, and water.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix raw umber and ultramarine blue for the base color of the water. Use white to lighten the sky and create clouds. Burnt sienna and yellow ochre are used to create the warm tones of the buildings.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering reflections
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the background
- →Making the reflections too sharp or defined
- →Using colors that are too saturated
- →Incorrect perspective of the buildings and bridge
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints: raw umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red light
- ·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·Flat brushes (#6, #8)
- ·Palette
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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