plate no. 1220
The Covenant
John Martin, 1832
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in value studies, atmospheric perspective, and rendering complex textures with a limited palette. It also provides practice in depicting dramatic lighting and creating a sense of depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and major shapes.
- step 02
Block in the darkest areas of the mountains and foreground with a dark neutral tone.
- step 03
Begin layering lighter values to define the forms of the mountains and clouds.
- step 04
Focus on creating smooth gradations of tone to suggest atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Add details to the figures, altar, and fire, paying attention to the light source.
- step 06
Carefully render the rainbow effect with subtle gradations of light.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and drama.
- step 08
Add final highlights to emphasize the focal points.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · payne's gray
Achieve various shades of gray by mixing black and white in different ratios. Use raw umber and payne's gray to add warmth or coolness to the grays.
techniques
- ·value studies
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Failing to establish a strong value range, resulting in a flat image.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Inconsistent light source and shadows.
- →Incorrect proportions of figures and landscape elements.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial blocking-in stage.
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