plate no. 1110

The Departure of the Procession from St. Etchmiadzin Cathedral

oil, canvasSymbolismhistory paintingbuildingfiguresprocessionarchitecturecathedralreligious

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting architectural details with texture and rendering figures in a crowd with varied light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes of the building and the placement of the figures.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the building, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Start adding details to the architecture, focusing on the texture and variations in color.
step 04
Block in the figures with simplified shapes and colors, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 05
Refine the figures, adding details to their clothing and faces, and adjusting the values to create depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the building and figures to enhance the three-dimensionality.
step 07
Pay attention to the atmospheric perspective, making distant elements softer and less detailed.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to create a cohesive and finished painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the stone colors by mixing raw umber and burnt sienna with varying amounts of titanium white. Use yellow ochre and small amounts of cadmium red light to create warmer tones. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt sienna to create grays for shadows.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Ignoring the overall composition and value structure.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits