plate no. 7658
The Constantly Changing View, Athens
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and practicing linear perspective to depict buildings and structures. It also offers practice in depicting atmospheric perspective through color and value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, mountains, and buildings using diluted washes.
- step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows and shapes of the buildings.
- step 04
Paint the details of the scaffolding, windows, and rooftops, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 05
Create the sun using a light color and radiating lines.
- step 06
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final touches to the sky and background to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish for protection.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · payne's gray
Mix raw umber and white for the buildings. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky and mountains. Add burnt sienna to raw umber for warmer tones on the roofs.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the perspective wrong can make the buildings look distorted.
- →Overworking the details can make the painting look cluttered.
- →Not creating enough contrast can make the painting look flat.
- →Using colors that are too saturated can clash with the overall muted tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to capture the muted tones of the original painting.
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