plate no. 0029

The Berlin-Potsdam Railway

oilRealismlandscapelandscapetraintreescityscapesmokefield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures with loose brushwork. It's also a good exercise in creating depth using value and color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the horizon line, trees, train, and cityscape.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the sky with light gray and yellow ochre, blending smoothly.
step 04
Add the distant cityscape using muted colors and soft edges to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Paint the large trees and foreground foliage with darker values and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Render the train and smoke, paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as grass and dirt, using dry brush techniques.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · ivory black

Mix muted greens for the fields by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Use white and a small amount of blue or black to create the grays for the sky and smoke.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·dry brush
·scumbling
·value gradation
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the background, which will flatten the perspective.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which will make the painting look unnatural.
→Ignoring the value structure, which will make the painting look flat.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform, which will make the painting look stiff.