plate no. 9568
Evening Elbe landscape with moored fishing barges
Carl Julius von Leypold, 1839
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating subtle color gradations to depict depth and light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horizon line, boats, buildings, and shoreline.
- step 02
Establish the basic color washes for the sky and water, using thin, diluted paint.
- step 03
Block in the darker values of the boats, buildings, and foreground, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the boats and buildings, using smaller brushes.
- step 05
Develop the foliage and trees, using a dry brush technique for texture.
- step 06
Refine the reflections in the water, using horizontal strokes.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and adjust the overall tone.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use thin washes of color to build up depth.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·tonal painting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke