plate no. 0620

Christening in Tanum Church

oil, canvasNaturalismgenre paintinginteriorchurchfiguresdoorwayarchitecturewindow

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and capturing the nuances of light and shadow within an interior space. It also provides practice in rendering figures in varying degrees of detail depending on their distance from the viewer.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the doorway and the placement of figures.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights with thinned paint.
step 03
Begin refining the colors of the interior, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the figures in the doorway, using thicker paint and more precise brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the details of the church interior, including the pews and the window.
step 06
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to adjust values. Create the atmospheric perspective by adding more blue and white to colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value that create depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints: burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, viridian
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife