plate no. 2372
Dido's View (from the Site of Carthage)
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating atmospheric perspective with soft pastel or colored pencil. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, water, and sky.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line.
- step 03
Begin layering the sky with light blues and yellows, blending softly.
- step 04
Add darker blues and purples to the mountains, suggesting form and shadow.
- step 05
Layer the water with blues and greens, creating horizontal strokes.
- step 06
Add highlights to the water to suggest reflections.
- step 07
Refine the details of the mountains and foreground.
- step 08
Add final touches and blend as needed.
color palette
primary · light blue · dark blue · white
secondary · yellow · green · purple
Mix blues and whites for the sky and water. Use blues and purples for the mountains. Add small amounts of yellow and green to the water for variation.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →overworking the details
- →using too much pressure
- →not blending colors sufficiently
- →ignoring atmospheric perspective
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·colored pencils or soft pastels
- ·drawing paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative (for pastels)
optional
- ·tortillions
- ·sandpaper block (for pastels)
- ·palette (for pastels)
Use a paper with a slight tooth to grip the pastel or colored pencil. Consider using toned paper for a head start on the overall color.
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