plate no. 5902
House with two stairs
Carel Willink, 1960
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering architectural details and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, tree, and stairs, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the sky and ground.
- step 04
Begin to refine the details of the building, including windows, brickwork, and architectural elements.
- step 05
Add the tree branches, focusing on their intricate structure.
- step 06
Develop the details of the stairs and railings, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 07
Paint the distant trees and fence using atmospheric perspective.
- step 08
Add the final details, such as the animal in the foreground and any subtle highlights.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of burnt sienna. Use ultramarine and white for the sky, adding a touch of raw umber for the clouds. Mix raw umber and burnt sienna for the building's brickwork.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective
- →Overly bright or saturated colors
- →Lack of detail in architectural elements
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective
- →Uneven blending
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·color wheel
Use a smooth canvas for better blending. Consider using a medium to slow the drying time of acrylics.
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