plate no. 0080
Temple ruins (from Paestum?)
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in accurately depicting architectural forms and understanding the effects of light and shadow on a subject. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through color and value variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the temple ruins and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, blending it smoothly.
- step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the temple structure using a mid-tone brown.
- step 04
Add darker values to the shadows and lighter values to the highlights, gradually building up the form.
- step 05
Refine the details of the columns and architectural elements, paying attention to their structure and texture.
- step 06
Paint the foreground with a mix of earth tones, suggesting the ground and any surrounding vegetation.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the realism of the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix raw umber and white for the stone, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adjusting the ratio for lighter and darker areas. Mix burnt sienna with raw umber for darker shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the architectural elements wrong.
- →Making the colors too saturated or unrealistic.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Failing to create a convincing sense of depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Thin the oil paints with a small amount of linseed oil or odorless mineral spirits if needed.
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