plate no. 0853

Marina grande in Capri

Vincenzo Caprile, 1909

oil, canvasRealismlandscapemountainsbuildingswaterboatsfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex shapes with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountain, buildings, and shoreline.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light purple base, blending in pink and white for the clouds.
step 03
Block in the mountain using muted browns, greens, and purples, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the buildings with a warm yellow-ochre base, adding details and shadows with burnt umber and white.
step 05
Develop the water with layers of blues, greens, and grays, creating highlights and reflections.
step 06
Add the boats and figures, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the foliage on the mountain and the texture of the buildings.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · sap green

Mix various shades of purple for the sky and mountains by combining ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, and white. Create realistic greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·blending
·rendering form
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, alizarin crimson, sap green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags