plate no. 4313
Malvern Priory, Worcestershire
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and rendering complex architectural details with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in creating depth and texture in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the church's perspective and placement within the landscape.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic shapes of the sky and distant hills.
- step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, hills, church, and foreground.
- step 04
Develop the details of the church, paying attention to the architectural elements and their tonal values.
- step 05
Add details to the foreground, including the graveyard and figures.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to enhance the realism of the scene.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create atmospheric perspective.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · sap green
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or green. Create atmospheric perspective by adding more blue to distant elements.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the perspective of the church wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for detailed brushwork. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
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