plate no. 4605
Bakery in Settignano
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting light and shadow in an urban environment, and in capturing the atmosphere of a busy street scene with numerous figures. It also provides practice in rendering textures like stone and aged walls.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the buildings and the placement of the main figures.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the buildings, using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural elements.
- step 05
Begin painting the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
- step 06
Work on the cobblestone street, paying attention to the perspective and the way the light reflects off the stones.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall color balance.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · ivory black
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and ivory black. Use yellow ochre to create warm highlights and sap green to create the green door.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the perspective wrong on the buildings and street.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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