plate no. 1771

Italianate Landscape with An Artist Sketching from Nature

oilBaroquelandscapelandscapewaterfalltreesfiguresrockssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for natural light, and rendering realistic textures of rocks and foliage. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the waterfall, rocks, trees, and figures.
step 02
Establish the sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the rocks and foliage with mid-tone colors, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the rocks, using a variety of browns, yellows, and greens to create texture and depth.
step 05
Develop the foliage by layering different shades of green and adding highlights to suggest sunlight.
step 06
Paint the waterfall and stream, using white and light blue to capture the movement and transparency of the water.
step 07
Add details to the figures, paying attention to their proportions and clothing.
step 08
Refine the overall painting by adjusting values, adding highlights, and softening edges.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Achieve the subtle greens by mixing ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow, and adjust with white or burnt umber. Create the warm tones of the rocks by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques