plate no. 0800
Suppression of the Octroi in 1860
Xavier Mellery, 1890
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex compositions with many figures and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also offers practice in capturing realistic textures and details.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
1
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to map out the overall composition and placement of major elements.
- step 02
Establish the background building and sky with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main figures and animals, focusing on their basic shapes and proportions.
- step 04
Gradually build up layers of color and detail, working from the background to the foreground.
- step 05
Pay attention to the light source and create highlights and shadows to give form to the figures and objects.
- step 06
Add details such as facial features, clothing folds, and textures.
- step 07
Refine the composition and make any necessary adjustments to the colors and values.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes to create depth and subtle color variations.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Getting lost in the details too early.
- →Incorrect proportions of figures and animals.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness.
- →Ignoring the light source and creating flat, lifeless forms.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium
Use a high-quality canvas and artist-grade oil paints for best results.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
