plate no. 8872

Courtyard of the Palace of the Venetian doge

oilImpressionismcityscapearchitecturecityscapebuildingfiguresskyplaza

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, architectural rendering, and capturing atmospheric light and shadow. It will also teach them how to simplify complex details into impressionistic brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building and the plaza, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, building, and ground, focusing on the overall value relationships.
step 03
Begin to define the architectural details of the building, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 04
Add the figures and birds, keeping them small and simple to maintain the focus on the architecture.
step 05
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Add the details of the clock and other architectural elements.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a harmonious and unified painting.
step 08
Add final details such as the red carpet and the birds.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix the sky color by blending ultramarine blue with white, adding a touch of yellow for warmth. Use raw umber and white to create the base color for the building, adding touches of burnt sienna and yellow for variation. Mix a range of grays by combining raw umber, ultramarine blue, and white.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·linear perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details of the architecture and losing the overall impression.
→Making the colors too saturated or bright.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.