plate no. 1858
Division of the kingdom of Clotaire
Jean Fouquet, 1460
some experience helpful
This painting helps develop skills in creating depth using linear perspective and understanding color temperature to create a sense of distance. Students will also learn to simplify complex architectural forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the castle, water, and landscape, paying attention to the overall composition.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point to guide the perspective.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
- step 04
Begin layering the colors of the castle walls, towers, and roofs, building up the texture and details.
- step 05
Add the details of the flags, windows, and other architectural elements.
- step 06
Paint the swans and their reflections in the water.
- step 07
Add the figures and tent in the foreground, paying attention to their relative scale.
- step 08
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · white · yellow · red
Mix ochre and burnt umber for the castle walls, adding white for highlights. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and mix blue with burnt umber for the water. A touch of yellow ochre can be added to the green of the grass.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective leading to a distorted image.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall composition.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not creating a sense of depth.
- →Ignoring the importance of highlights and shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (small and medium)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use a fine-grain canvas to capture the details of the painting. Thin the oil paints with linseed oil to create transparent washes.
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