plate no. 9152

The Rokin with the Stock Exchange of Hendrick De Keijser

oilBaroquemarinabuildingswaterboatsskycloudscityscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex architectural details with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in depicting reflections in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major shapes: buildings, boats, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad, blended strokes, capturing the subtle variations in cloud color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings using a limited palette of browns, reds, and grays.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, focusing on the architectural elements and windows.
step 05
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky and buildings.
step 06
Add the boats and figures, paying attention to their relative scale and placement.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · Prussian blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing browns with grays and blues. Use white sparingly to create subtle highlights.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early.
→Overworking the colors and losing the subtle variations.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of atmospheric perspective.
→Inaccurate perspective of the buildings and boats.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, Prussian blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·Turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags