Interior of the church of St Bavo at Haarlem

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle variations in the walls and ceiling by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create grays for shadows.

techniques

• ·linear perspective
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

• →Incorrect perspective can ruin the illusion of depth.
• →Overworking the details can make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
• →Failing to create a sense of atmosphere can make the painting feel flat.
• →Inaccurate color mixing can lead to a muddy or unrealistic palette.