plate no. 1097
La Tour De Babel
experienced study
Recreating this painting will develop skills in perspective, rendering complex architectural details, and creating atmospheric perspective to suggest depth. It also provides practice in painting figures in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 40 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the tower, landscape, and foreground elements, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the sky and background mountains with thin washes of color, focusing on creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Block in the main values of the tower, differentiating between light and shadow areas.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the tower, focusing on the architectural elements and the repeating patterns of windows and arches.
- step 05
Develop the foreground elements, including the figures and buildings, using smaller brushes and more detailed brushwork.
- step 06
Refine the details throughout the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · Prussian blue
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with small amounts of blue and white. Use glazes of burnt sienna and raw umber to create depth and warmth.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·rendering architectural details
common pitfalls
- →getting lost in the details too early
- →inconsistent perspective
- →muddy colors
- →lack of value contrast
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·Prussian blue oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a canvas with a smooth texture to allow for detailed brushwork and glazing. Consider using a toned ground to unify the colors.
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