plate no. 3575
Market day
Victor Gabriel Gilbert, 1881
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a bustling urban environment with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in rendering figures in varying degrees of detail and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of key elements.
- step 02
Block in the major shapes and values using thin washes of color, focusing on the overall tonal relationships.
- step 03
Develop the background buildings and street scene, paying attention to atmospheric perspective and softening details in the distance.
- step 04
Start adding details to the figures in the foreground, focusing on capturing their gestures and expressions.
- step 05
Build up the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the details of the market stall and surrounding objects, paying attention to the textures and reflections.
- step 07
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the overall atmosphere.
- step 08
Pay attention to the reflections on the wet pavement.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Achieve the muted tones by mixing browns and blacks with small amounts of red, yellow, and blue. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Creating too much contrast and losing the subtle tonal relationships.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Not capturing the atmospheric perspective
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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