plate no. 6365

Church at Blainville

Marcel Duchamp, 1902

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapechurchtreeslandscapebuildingskyfoliage

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in capturing light and shadow on architectural forms and foliage using loose brushstrokes and a limited palette. Students can develop skills in simplifying complex shapes and creating atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church, trees, and ground.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of muted grays and purples.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the church with broad strokes of color.
step 04
Add the darker greens and browns for the foliage in the foreground.
step 05
Refine the details of the church windows and roof, paying attention to the light.
step 06
Develop the texture of the trees with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the foliage and roof to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Blend edges and soften transitions where needed to create a cohesive image.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix muted grays and purples for the sky by combining ultramarine blue, raw umber, and white. Achieve the warm tones of the church by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and white. Darken greens with raw umber and lighten with yellow ochre.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the church windows.
→Creating overly saturated greens in the foliage.
→Losing the sense of light and shadow by blending too much.
→Failing to simplify the complex shapes of the trees.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, viridian green, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits