plate no. 3325

Troki. Catholic church of St. Mary

Albrecht Adam, 1812

oilRomanticismcityscapebuildingschurchhousesfigureshorsessky

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the church, houses, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points.
step 03
Block in the basic colors for the sky, buildings, and ground, using thin washes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and roof textures.
step 05
Paint the figures and horses, focusing on their proportions and poses.
step 06
Develop the sky with subtle gradations of color to create depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add shadows and highlights to create form and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as small details on the figures and horses.

color palette

primary · gray · ochre · white · brown

secondary · blue-gray · yellow ochre · dark brown

Mix grays by combining white with small amounts of brown, blue, and ochre. Use ochre and brown to create the straw roof color. Vary the grays for the sky to create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·linear perspective
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective leading to distorted buildings.
→Overworking the sky and losing the atmospheric effect.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the buildings and ground.
→Getting the proportions of the figures and horses wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·graphite pencils
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·linseed oil or acrylic medium

optional

·palette knife
·easel
·viewfinder
·ruler

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. For acrylics, use a slow-drying medium to allow for blending. For oils, use odorless mineral spirits for cleaning brushes.

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