plate no. 1148
The Montelbaanstoren
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural details and rendering figures in a loose, impressionistic style.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: tower, buildings, docks, and water.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective.
- step 03
Block in the sky and water with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall tone.
- step 04
Add the darker values for the tower, buildings, and docks, gradually building up the forms.
- step 05
Begin adding details to the buildings and tower, simplifying the architectural elements.
- step 06
Paint the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes and similar colors to the objects above.
- step 07
Add figures and boats, using small, gestural strokes.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue with white. Use burnt sienna to add warmth to the browns. Create the atmospheric haze by mixing white with small amounts of the other colors.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken brushstrokes
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Getting the perspective wrong, especially with the buildings and tower.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a limited palette to achieve the harmonious color scheme. Thin the paints with linseed oil for smooth blending.
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