plate no. 1103
Santa Maria Della Salute
Graham Sutherland, 1957
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in architectural rendering with loose brushwork and understanding how to create depth using a limited color palette. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms and capture the essence of the subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building and the water line.
- step 02
Block in the dark green background, leaving space for the building.
- step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the building with a mid-tone green-gray.
- step 04
Add lighter highlights to the building's architectural details using white mixed with a touch of green or blue.
- step 05
Paint the water surface with horizontal strokes of varying greens, reflecting the building's colors.
- step 06
Add the red curtain detail in the entrance.
- step 07
Refine the details of the building, focusing on the contrast between light and shadow.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · viridian green · titanium white · payne's gray
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of green by combining viridian green with white and a touch of Payne's gray. Use yellow ochre to warm up the greens and create subtle variations. The red is used sparingly for the curtain detail.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the architecture.
- →Creating too much contrast, losing the overall mood.
- →Making the water too uniform, lacking reflection.
- →Using too many colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth of the colors.
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