plate no. 6232
The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh, 1889
experienced study
Students would develop confidence with expressive brushwork and understanding how to create luminous effects against dark backgrounds. This study teaches the power of directional strokes to create movement and energy.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Block in the basic composition with charcoal, establishing horizon line and major shapes
- step 02
Lay in the darkest values first - the deep blues and blacks of the night sky and water
- step 03
Add the mid-tone blues, working wet-into-wet for smooth transitions
- step 04
Paint the town silhouette and bridge structure with warm earth tones
- step 05
Add the bright yellow stars and their radiating light patterns
- step 06
Create the water reflections with vertical brushstrokes
- step 07
Add the foreground figures and final details
- step 08
Refine the swirling brushwork patterns throughout to unify the composition
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · prussian blue · cadmium yellow · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white · viridian
Mix various blue tones by combining ultramarine with white and touches of burnt umber. Create luminous yellows by mixing cadmium yellow with small amounts of white.
techniques
- ·impasto brushwork
- ·directional stroke patterns
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling for texture
- ·optical color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Making stars too uniform in size
- →Overworking the wet paint
- →Using too much white in the dark areas
- →Making reflections too literal
materials
surface · stretched canvas primed with acrylic gesso
required
- ·#6 and #10 flat hog bristle brushes
- ·#4 round brush
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·prussian blue oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·stretched canvas 18x24 inches
optional
- ·palette knife for mixing
- ·#2 liner brush for details
- ·painting medium for flow
- ·easel light for color accuracy
Use hog bristle brushes to achieve the characteristic textural brushwork. Keep paint fairly thick for impasto effects.
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