plate no. 8186

On the Riva Dei Schiavoni a procession in Venice

watercolor, paperAcademicismgenre paintingbuildingswaterfiguresboatsprocessioncityscape

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and color mixing for realistic skin tones and architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light pencil sketch to establish the overall composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the buildings, water, and boats using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the values, focusing on the shadows and highlights.
step 04
Start adding details to the figures, working from general shapes to more specific features.
step 05
Pay attention to the colors and values of the figures in the foreground versus the background to create depth.
step 06
Add details to the architectural elements, such as windows, doors, and decorative features.
step 07
Refine the water reflections, paying attention to the distortion and movement of the water.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red with white. Create variations in the water by mixing ultramarine blue with green and white. Use raw umber and burnt sienna for the buildings, adjusting the values with white and blue.

techniques