plate no. 3106
Ruins of Bunol
Joaquín Sorolla, 1894
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing light and shadow in a landscape. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the ruins, figures, and the horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and grays.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the landscape with broad strokes, paying attention to value differences.
- step 04
Begin defining the ruins, using a mix of warm browns and grays to create the texture of the stone.
- step 05
Add the figures, focusing on their basic forms and proportions.
- step 06
Refine the details of the landscape, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Develop the figures further, adding details to their clothing and faces.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson
secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · yellow ochre
Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the warm tones of the ruins by blending raw umber, cadmium yellow light, and alizarin crimson. Use titanium white to lighten values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
- ·implied detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating overly saturated colors, which will flatten the landscape.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, resulting in a lack of depth.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow light oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium alkyd
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a limited palette to achieve color harmony. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a mid-tone base.
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