plate no. 5523
St Martin in the Fields
William Logsdail, 1888
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the main shapes and perspective lines of the building and figures.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure and atmospheric perspective.
- step 03
Develop the background elements, gradually adding details and refining the shapes of the buildings and figures.
- step 04
Work on the reflections in the wet street, using horizontal brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
- step 05
Focus on the central figures, paying attention to their proportions, gestures, and clothing.
- step 06
Add details to the flowers and other small elements, using small, precise brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism and drama.
color palette
primary · gray · ochre · brown · white
secondary · red · yellow · green · blue
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors with white. Use thin glazes to create depth and luminosity.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →getting lost in details too early
- →overworking the painting
- →inaccurate perspective
- →muddy colors
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.
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