plate no. 5640
St. Mark's, Venice
Walter Sickert, 1896
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in architectural rendering with simplified forms and color blocking, as well as capturing atmospheric perspective with a limited palette.
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, focusing on proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of pale green.
- step 03
Establish the main dark areas of the building with a mix of browns and blues.
- step 04
Add the mid-tones, gradually building up the structure's form.
- step 05
Paint the domes and arches, paying attention to their curvature.
- step 06
Introduce the gold details and highlights on the building.
- step 07
Add the flags with their respective colors.
- step 08
Indicate the figures in the foreground with simple strokes.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green
Mix greens from blue and yellow ochre. Use white to create lighter tones of the primary colors. Browns are created by mixing umber with blue or red.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·simplified rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Incorrect perspective leading to a distorted building.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a garish appearance.
- →Failing to create depth through subtle value changes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and blending. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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