plate no. 6856

Abu Simbel at Sunrise

oilRomanticismlandscapearchitecturestatuesdesertwaterskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in earth tones and practice rendering form through light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cliff, statues, and water horizon.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Apply a base layer of color to the sky, water, and cliff face.
step 04
Begin building up the colors of the cliff, mixing browns, oranges, and purples.
step 05
Add details to the statues, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and texture.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add the figure for scale.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for the darker shadows. Use white to lighten the earth tones and create highlights. Add yellow ochre for warmth.

techniques