plate no. 7678
The Battle of Arques, Normandy
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It is also a good exercise in color mixing to achieve a harmonious and warm tonal range.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the buildings, figures, and road.
- step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the sky with a thin wash of color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the buildings, road, and foliage, focusing on value relationships.
- step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as the thatched roofs and windows, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Define the figures with simple shapes and dark values.
- step 06
Create texture on the road and foliage with dry brush techniques and varied brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing burnt sienna and yellow ochre with varying amounts of white. Use small amounts of ultramarine blue to create cooler shadows and muted greens.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much detail in the background, flattening the perspective.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not creating enough variation in brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a toned canvas to establish the warm undertones.
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