plate no. 6819
The Lion of Venice
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in architectural rendering and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle color variations in a muted palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the buildings, column, and gondolas using light pencil lines.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water using thinned paint.
- step 04
Develop the values and colors of the buildings, paying attention to the subtle shifts in tone.
- step 05
Add details to the architecture, such as windows, arches, and decorative elements.
- step 06
Paint the gondolas and reflections in the water.
- step 07
Refine the details of the lion statue and the column.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and titanium white in varying proportions. Add small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth and ivory black for cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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