plate no. 1810

Aqua Alta (High water) during the carnival in Venice

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingfigureswaterbuildingscityscapeboatssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a complex scene and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective to suggest depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of major elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the buildings and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the sky and water, paying attention to the subtle color variations and reflections.
step 04
Develop the figures, adding details and refining their forms.
step 05
Work on the architectural details of the buildings, focusing on accurate perspective.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of burnt sienna and umber to create depth in shadows.

techniques