plate no. 7483
The Great Bartholdi Statue
Currier and Ives, 1885
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, particularly atmospheric perspective, and in rendering architectural details with precision. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and scale.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and perspective lines.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the statue, island, water, and cityscape with simplified colors.
- step 03
Develop the statue's form by layering shades of green and brown, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add details to the base of the statue, including the architectural elements and figures.
- step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, varying the colors to create depth and reflections.
- step 06
Render the cityscape in the background with a soft, hazy effect to suggest distance.
- step 07
Add the boats and ships, paying attention to their scale and placement.
- step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · viridian green · raw umber · sky blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows with touches of brown. Achieve the hazy background by diluting colors with a medium or thinner.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective can flatten the image.
- →Overworking the details in the background can diminish the sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated can make the painting look unrealistic.
- →Ignoring the light source can result in inconsistent shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·mineral spirits or water (for cleaning)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting varnish
- ·detail brushes
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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