plate no. 7845
Monastery Gates
Aleksey Savrasov, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of foliage and architectural details with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and water.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the sky, water, and major land masses, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings and trees, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using horizontal strokes and softened edges.
- step 06
Refine the details of the figures and architectural elements.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · Prussian blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian
Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric haze. Mix alizarin crimson and burnt umber for dark shadows.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear flat.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·Prussian blue oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the value structure.
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