plate no. 7507

Landscape with Bileam

oilNeoclassicismlandscapelandscapefigurestreesangelmountainssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as rendering complex figures within a landscape.

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 major elements (landscape, figures, angel).
step 02
Establish the sky and distant mountains with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the major landforms and trees, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective in the landscape.
step 05
Carefully render the figures, paying attention to anatomy and drapery.
step 06
Paint the angel, focusing on creating a sense of ethereal light and movement.
step 07
Add details to the trees and foliage, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final details.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix blues and browns for shadows in the landscape.

techniques