plate no. 1713

La Piazzetta, Palazzo Ducale, Venezia

oilRealismcityscapebuildingswaterskyfiguresboatscityscape

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice atmospheric perspective and rendering architectural details with simplified brushstrokes. Students can also learn to create a sense of depth and scale by varying the level of detail in different areas of the painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, water, and sky.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water, then the buildings and foreground.
step 03
Establish the basic value structure, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the architectural elements and windows.
step 05
Refine the details in the foreground, including the figures and boats.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · raw umber · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings, mixing in white to lighten the tones. Create grays by mixing complementary colors.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Ignoring atmospheric perspective and creating a flat, unrealistic image.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or 16x20)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags