plate no. 4286

The Chapel of Eton College

oil, canvasRococolandscapearchitecturelandscapefigurestreeswatersky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering architectural details within a landscape. It also provides practice in painting figures within a scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, creating a subtle gradient.
step 03
Establish the horizon line and the large masses of land and water.
step 04
Begin adding details to the architecture, starting with the main building and working outwards.
step 05
Paint the trees, using layers of color to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add the figures, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
step 07
Refine the details of the water, adding reflections and highlights.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ivory black · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and green by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·glazing
·dry brushing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective of the buildings wrong.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Overworking the details.
→Not creating enough depth in the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, ivory black, sap green)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags