plate no. 1203

CEMENT WORKS No.2

Eric Ravilious, 1934

oilMagic Realismlandscapelandscapebuildingstreesfiguresindustrialhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in linear perspective, color mixing for muted tones, and creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, hills, and railway.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale grey or blue.
step 03
Apply base colors to the hills, buildings, and foreground, focusing on the overall tonal values.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, stairs, and roof lines, using a fine brush.
step 05
Paint the trees and branches, varying the thickness of the lines to create depth.
step 06
Add the figures and details like the railway tracks and mine carts.
step 07
Refine the colors and values, adding shadows and highlights to create form.
step 08
Add final details, such as the smoke from the chimney and the texture of the ground.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · payne's gray · sap green · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white or raw umber to dull the intensity. Use Payne's Gray to darken colors without making them too harsh.

techniques