plate no. 0107

Pilao-Wala Mosque, Old Delhi

Martin Yeoman, 2005

oil, canvasContemporary Realismcityscapebuildingarchitecturecityscapefiguredoorwaysteps

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice capturing form with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the scene, focusing on the main architectural elements and the figure.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of the dominant green-blue color across the canvas.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of color, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and hue within the green-blue palette.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the shadows and create depth, especially around the doorway and architectural details.
step 05
Introduce the warmer tones of brown and orange to create contrast and visual interest.
step 06
Refine the details with smaller brushstrokes, focusing on capturing the texture and form of the building and figure.
step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white

Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian green with raw umber and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use white sparingly to lighten the tones while maintaining a subtle, earthy feel.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Using too much white and creating a chalky effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in tone and hue within the limited palette.
→Ignoring the importance of the initial sketch and losing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·viridian green oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·linseed oil
·#6 filbert brush

optional

·palette knife
·odorless mineral spirits
·medium gloss

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color and simplify the painting process.

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