plate no. 0389
Galway Market Scene
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in painting figures in a crowd.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the placement of the figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky and ground with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the main values of the buildings, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 04
Add the figures, focusing on their general shapes and colors rather than precise details.
- step 05
Refine the details of the buildings and figures, using small brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of blue or red to create cooler or warmer tones.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating too much contrast and making the painting look harsh.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall scene.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2-6
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better brushwork. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting to paint.
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