Gondoliers on a Venetian Canal

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · sky blue · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of sienna for warmth. Use sienna and umber for the buildings, lightening with white and adding touches of red and green for variation. Create the water by mixing blues, greens, and browns, reflecting the colors of the surrounding buildings and sky.

techniques

• ·atmospheric perspective
• ·broken color
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·rendering reflections

common pitfalls

• →Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
• →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
• →Making the reflections too literal and uniform.
• →Using colors that are too saturated and unrealistic.