plate no. 0490
The Canal
Julius LeBlanc Stewart, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering reflections in water and capturing the textures of old buildings with varied brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the buildings and the canal.
- step 02
Establish the main value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, water, and figures with their local colors.
- step 04
Begin refining the details of the buildings, paying attention to the textures and variations in color.
- step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
- step 06
Add details to the figures, focusing on their poses and clothing.
- step 07
Refine the details of the boats and other elements in the scene.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and white. Use ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow to create muted greens for the water reflections. Add alizarin crimson to burnt umber for richer browns.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·wet-on-dry blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
- →Failing to accurately capture the perspective of the buildings.
- →Making the water reflections too uniform and lacking in variation.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not muted enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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