plate no. 2155

Southern Harbour Scene with Merchants

oilBaroquecityscapeharborshipsfiguresarchitecturecloudscityscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex architectural details, atmospheric perspective, and depicting figures in a dynamic scene. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations to create depth and realism.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition, focusing on the placement of the major elements like the buildings, ships, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky and water with broad strokes, paying attention to the subtle color variations and atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the buildings, starting with the largest forms and gradually adding details.
step 04
Begin painting the ships, focusing on their structure and the way light interacts with their sails and hulls.
step 05
Add the figures, starting with the larger groups and then moving on to the smaller details, paying attention to their poses and interactions.
step 06
Refine the details of the architecture, including the columns, arches, and ornamentation.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or yellow. Create atmospheric perspective by adding more white to distant elements.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·scumbling
·rendering details
·figure painting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of atmospheric perspective.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.
→Getting lost in the complexity of the composition and losing sight of the overall design.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife