plate no. 9749
Near the Monastery
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting natural textures and subtle color variations in a muted palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the horizon line, the church, the figure, and the water's edge.
- step 02
Establish the overall tonal values with a thin wash of diluted paint, focusing on the light sky and darker foreground.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the trees and the church with their local colors, paying attention to the muted tones.
- step 04
Start refining the details of the figure and the rocks in the water, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the reflections in the water, capturing the distorted shapes and subtle color shifts.
- step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage, using varied brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the sky and add the moon, softening the edges for an atmospheric effect.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create depth and harmony.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green
secondary · yellow ochre · payne's gray · burnt sienna
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use raw umber and white for the sky and water. Mix greens with yellow ochre and blue for the foliage.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering reflections
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·tonal painting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating overly saturated colors that clash with the muted palette.
- →Failing to capture the subtle tonal variations in the sky and water.
- →Making the reflections too sharp and defined.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth texture for easier blending. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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