plate no. 0348
Le Dernière Heure
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create a sense of depth. It also provides practice in rendering figures and drapery.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to perspective lines of the street and buildings.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the sky, buildings, street, and figure with diluted washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows on the buildings, street, and figure.
- step 04
Develop the details of the trees, adding branches and subtle variations in color.
- step 05
Refine the figure, paying attention to the folds and highlights of the dress and the form of the back.
- step 06
Add the bench and the red cloth, carefully observing their shadows and details.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and add any final details.
- step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · gray · yellow ochre · viridian
secondary · red · titanium white · raw umber
Mix grays by combining white, black, and a touch of umber. Achieve the yellow of the dress by mixing yellow ochre with white, and the green of the top by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·figure drawing
- ·color mixing
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective will ruin the sense of depth.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to create subtle variations in the gray tones.
- →Inaccurate figure proportions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retarder medium
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly due to faster drying times.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
