plate no. 8121

Neapolitan country road

oilRealismgenre paintingbuildingsfiguresstreetskytreesreflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and capturing the reflections on a wet surface. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a realistic style.

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 buildings and figures.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the street.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, buildings, and ground using thin washes.
step 04
Develop the details of the buildings, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add the figures, starting with the larger shapes and then refining the details.
step 06
Create the reflections on the wet street, using lighter values and blurred edges.
step 07
Add the bare tree branches and other small details.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · gray · white · brown · ochre

secondary · blue · red · yellow

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, black, and small amounts of blue or brown. Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing ochre, burnt sienna, and white.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Making the reflections too sharp or defined.
→Not capturing the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: titanium white, ivory black, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil