plate no. 6386

Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome

watercolor, paperRealismcityscapearchitecturecityscapebuildingdomeskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex architectural forms with loose watercolor washes. Students can also learn to suggest detail rather than meticulously painting every element.

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 of the cathedral and surrounding buildings, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the sky with a diluted wash of gray and blue, allowing it to dry.
step 03
Apply a light wash of yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the cathedral, defining the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Add darker washes of blue and brown to the dome and shadowed areas of the buildings.
step 05
Use a smaller brush to add details to the architecture, such as columns and windows, with varying degrees of saturation.
step 06
Paint the trees in the foreground with a mix of dark greens and browns, using loose brushstrokes.
step 07
Add subtle details to the foreground buildings, using a similar color palette to the cathedral.
step 08
Refine the values and details, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray · white

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the darker shadows and the dome. Payne's gray can be used to create a neutral gray for the sky.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·atmospheric perspective
·lost and found edges

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not achieving the muted, atmospheric effect.
→Not establishing a clear value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Failing to simplify the complex architectural details.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil
·eraser

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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