plate no. 7386

Nel Deserto

Cesare Biseo, 1889

oil, canvasOrientalismlandscapedesertcamelsfigureslandscapemountainssky

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, camels, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the sky with a thin wash of yellow ochre and burnt sienna.
step 03
Block in the mountain shapes with darker values of burnt umber and a touch of green.
step 04
Paint the camels, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Develop the foreground with a mix of browns, ochres, and greens, adding texture with dry brush techniques.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures and camel features.
step 07
Add highlights to the camels and foreground to create a sense of light and depth.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create atmospheric perspective.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · burnt umber

secondary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and burnt umber. Use titanium white sparingly to create highlights and atmospheric perspective. Add a touch of sap green to the shadows in the mountains and foreground.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·dry brush
·glazing
·value studies
·warm color palette

common pitfalls

→Overusing white, resulting in chalky colors.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring atmospheric perspective, causing the painting to look flat.
→Getting lost in details too early.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber, raw umber, titanium white, sap green
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags