plate no. 4909

Desecrated Shrine

oil, canvasRealismcityscapeinteriorarchitecturefigurebooksstonereligious

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures of stone and fabric, as well as understanding complex perspective and composition. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a realistic manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and forms with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the textures of the stone walls and floor with layers of paint.
step 04
Add details to the architectural elements, such as the carvings and moldings.
step 05
Paint the figure, paying attention to the folds of the clothing and the lighting.
step 06
Render the books and other objects on the floor, focusing on their textures and details.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Achieve the various stone tones by mixing raw umber and burnt sienna with varying amounts of white. Use ultramarine blue sparingly to create subtle cool shadows.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·chiaroscuro
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, especially with the floor tiles.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and tone.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags