plate no. 7277
In front of the Doge's Palace
Alessandro Zezzos, 1892
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a crowd and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow in an outdoor setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and placement of major elements.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, water, and sky using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the main figures, focusing on their poses and relationships to each other.
- step 04
Add details to the architecture, such as windows and decorative elements.
- step 05
Develop the atmospheric perspective by gradually softening the edges and lightening the colors of distant objects.
- step 06
Refine the figures with more detail, paying attention to clothing and facial features.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Include final details like birds and reflections in the water.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm highlights and reflections.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details too early
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective
- →Using colors that are too saturated
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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