plate no. 7658
The Old Burgtheater
Gustav Klimt, 1889
gouache, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)genre paintingtheaterinteriorfiguresarchitecturechandelieraudience
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, rendering architectural details, and depicting a large crowd of figures with varying levels of detail. It's also a good exercise in capturing the atmosphere and lighting of an interior space.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch, focusing on the overall composition and perspective lines of the theater interior.
- step 02
Establish the main architectural elements: the stage, balconies, ceiling, and walls.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the audience, paying attention to the distribution of figures.
- step 04
Start adding details to the architectural elements, such as the ornamentation on the balconies and ceiling.
- step 05
Refine the figures in the audience, adding details to their clothing and faces, focusing on those in the foreground.
- step 06
Develop the lighting and shadows to create depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add the chandelier and other light sources, paying attention to how they illuminate the scene.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · ultramarine blue
Achieve the warm, golden tones by mixing yellow ochre and burnt umber with varying amounts of white. Use small amounts of red and blue to create subtle variations in the shadows and details.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering detail
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the perspective wrong, leading to a distorted image.
- →Overworking the details, making the painting look too busy.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Not varying the level of detail in the figures, making them all look the same.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·mineral spirits or water for cleaning
optional
- ·easel
- ·varnish
- ·retarder medium
Using a toned canvas (e.g., with a wash of burnt umber) can help establish the warm undertones of the painting.
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