plate no. 6808
Canterbury Cathedral from the Stour Meadows, Kent
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in rendering realistic animal forms and architectural details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the cathedral, trees, river, and cows.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft, diffused clouds.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the landscape, using greens and browns for the fields and trees.
- step 04
Paint the cathedral in the distance, paying attention to its architectural details and atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Add the river, capturing the reflections of the sky, trees, and cows.
- step 06
Paint the cows, focusing on their anatomy, color variations, and interaction with the water.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as the reeds and grasses along the riverbank.
- step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · sap green
Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors as they recede into the distance.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·reflected light
- ·wet-on-dry blending
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overly bright or saturated colors in the distance.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the cows or cathedral.
- →Neglecting the subtle color variations in the water reflections.
- →Harsh or unnatural blending of colors.
- →Lack of depth in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#2 filbert brush
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-tinting the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber can help create a warm undertone.
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