plate no. 0560

Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still

oilRomanticismreligious paintinglandscapecityscapecloudsfiguresmountainsstorm

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, dramatic lighting, and creating a sense of scale. It also provides practice in depicting complex cloud formations and distant details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a toned ground (e.g., burnt umber wash).
step 02
Lightly sketch the main compositional elements: mountains, city, and cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the darkest areas of the painting, focusing on the foreground and storm clouds.
step 04
Block in the lighter areas, particularly the sky and the city illuminated by the sun.
step 05
Begin blending and softening the edges of the clouds to create atmospheric effects.
step 06
Add details to the city and the figures in the foreground, gradually refining the forms.
step 07
Introduce subtle color variations to the mountains and landscape to enhance depth.
step 08
Apply final highlights and shadows to create a sense of drama and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · raw sienna

Achieve the stormy sky by mixing black, white, and a touch of blue. Create the warm glow of the sunlit city by blending yellow ochre, white, and a hint of red. Use burnt umber and raw sienna for the earth tones.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Losing the sense of atmospheric perspective by making distant objects too sharp.