plate no. 5638
Cellar Window in Heidelberger Schloß
Wilhelm Trübner, 1871
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth using value and color temperature. It also provides practice in rendering textures of stone and foliage with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the window and door.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the reddish tones of the stone wall and the dark tones of the door.
- step 04
Develop the texture of the stone wall using broken brushstrokes and varying shades of red, brown, and gray.
- step 05
Add the foliage around the window, paying attention to the shapes and values of the leaves.
- step 06
Refine the details of the window and door, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Glaze over the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and create atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green
Achieve the dark tones by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Create the reddish hues by mixing cadmium red with burnt umber and raw sienna. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky seen through the window.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
- →Not establishing a strong value structure early on.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for good texture. Consider using a toned canvas to start with a mid-value ground.
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