plate no. 5790
Courtyard of Venice
Noè Bordignon, 1883
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a realistic setting and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures like brick and stone.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes and figures, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the background by blocking in the large areas of color for the buildings and sky.
- step 03
Start defining the figures, focusing on their basic forms and proportions.
- step 04
Gradually add details to the figures, including clothing patterns and facial features.
- step 05
Work on the textures of the brick and stone, using broken brushstrokes and varying colors.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the chickens and small figures in the background.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and adjust the values.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of black. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create grays.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Ignoring the overall value structure
- →Incorrect proportions of figures
- →Not establishing atmospheric perspective
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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