plate no. 0043

Poème de l'âme 12: L’Échelle d’or

oilRomanticismillustrationangelsfigureslandscapetreesstairssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in soft light and shadow, as well as creating atmospheric perspective to suggest depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values, paying attention to the shadows on the figures and in the landscape.
step 04
Gradually build up the lighter values, blending carefully to create soft transitions.
step 05
Refine the details of the figures, such as the faces and wings.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of luminosity.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to achieve the desired mood.
step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Achieve the ethereal tones by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of blue or crimson. Use glazes of diluted color to create subtle variations in tone.

techniques