plate no. 2218
Market in Normandy
Theodore Rousseau, 1848
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering architectural forms with loose brushwork and creating atmospheric perspective with muted colors. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a crowd and suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the overall composition, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point(s).
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: sky, buildings, and ground, using thin washes.
- step 04
Develop the details of the buildings, focusing on the textures of the stone and wood.
- step 05
Add the figures in the market scene, using simple shapes and colors.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add highlights to the buildings and figures to create a sense of realism.
- step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and add any final details.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue. Use thin washes of color to build up layers and create depth.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Creating too much contrast and losing the atmospheric effect.
- →Incorrect perspective, making the buildings look distorted.
- →Using colors that are too bright and saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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