plate no. 8596

Landscape with Figures

oilBaroquelandscapelandscapefigurescloudsbuildingstreeshill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and limited palette color mixing. Students will also practice rendering form with subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the hill and buildings.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted burnt umber or raw umber.
step 03
Begin blocking in the sky, using a range of grays created by mixing white, black, and a touch of umber.
step 04
Work on the hill, building up layers of color and texture to create the illusion of form and depth.
step 05
Add the figures on the hill, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 06
Paint the buildings and trees in the distance, using lighter values and less detail to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final details like the birds in the sky.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Achieve the various grays by mixing white and black in different proportions. Add small amounts of umber or ochre to warm or cool the grays as needed.

techniques