plate no. 2237
Ruins of a Theater in Chuguchak
Vasily Vereshchagin, 1870
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in rendering architectural forms in perspective and creating a sense of atmosphere through subtle color variations. Students can also learn to depict textures of weathered stone and dry grass.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building ruins, the horizon line, and the tree lines.
- step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, building, and ground.
- step 03
Begin refining the architectural details of the ruins, paying attention to perspective.
- step 04
Add the pink hues to the building walls.
- step 05
Develop the textures of the ground with layers of greens, browns, and yellows.
- step 06
Paint the bare trees, focusing on their branching structure.
- step 07
Add the skulls and other small details in the foreground.
- step 08
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · sky blue · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · pink · sap green · burnt sienna
Mix the sky blue with white for lighter tones. Create variations of yellow ochre by adding small amounts of burnt sienna or raw umber. Mix pink with white to create the lighter shades on the building.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering form
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective on the building
- →Overly saturated colors
- →Lack of variation in ground texture
- →Ignoring subtle color shifts in the sky
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brush (size 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits (if using oil paints)
- ·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
- ·Rags
Use a limited palette to encourage color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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