plate no. 1071

The Colleoni Statue, Venice

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingswaterstatueskyfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting architectural details with loose, impressionistic brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, statue, and water line, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main colors of the buildings, using a mix of warm and cool tones.
step 04
Paint the statue and its base, focusing on capturing the light and shadow.
step 05
Add the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes and slightly desaturated colors.
step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground, simplifying their forms and colors.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and statue, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · viridian

Mix various shades of beige and pink for the buildings by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white with small amounts of red or blue. Achieve the water reflections by desaturating the building colors with grey and white.

techniques