plate no. 7291
Piazza Del Duomo
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing tonal values and creating depth using a limited palette. Students can learn to suggest detail rather than rendering every element precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and plaza.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting, particularly the sky and shadows.
- step 03
Block in the mid-tones on the buildings and ground, focusing on value relationships.
- step 04
Add lighter tones to suggest highlights and architectural details.
- step 05
Use dry brush techniques to create texture on the ground and buildings.
- step 06
Indicate the figures with quick, gestural strokes.
- step 07
Refine the details of the architecture, focusing on key elements.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · ivory black
Mix burnt umber and white for the lighter tones of the buildings. Use raw umber for the ground and shadows. Add a touch of black to darken the shadows further.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·tonal painting
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
- →Ignoring the perspective and creating a distorted composition.
- →Using too much paint and obscuring the texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
A slightly textured canvas will enhance the dry brush effect. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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