plate no. 1802

The Chapel

oil, canvasSymbolismlandscaperuinsoceanwavesarchitectureskybirds

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures like crumbling brick and turbulent water. It also encourages the use of a limited palette to create a cohesive mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the ruins and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the dark background sky with a thin wash of dark brown and black.
step 03
Block in the large areas of the building with mid-tone browns and grays, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Begin layering in details on the building, such as individual bricks and cracks, using a small brush.
step 05
Start defining the waves with dark greens and blues, adding highlights with white and light green.
step 06
Add the foam and spray of the waves using short, broken brushstrokes of white.
step 07
Refine the details of the building and the water, adjusting values and adding highlights.
step 08
Add the birds in the window as a final detail.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · viridian green

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue or ivory black to cool the tones. Create greens by mixing ultramarine blue and yellow ochre.

techniques