The Marble Staircase which Leads up to S. Maria in Aracoeli in Rome

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and add a touch of red for the clouds.

techniques

• ·linear perspective
• ·atmospheric perspective
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·dry brushing

common pitfalls

• →Incorrect perspective leading to distorted buildings
• →Overly saturated colors that detract from the natural light
• →Neglecting the subtle value changes in the architecture
• →Rushing the initial sketch and blocking in stages