plate no. 0416
Valle de México desde el Tapeyac
Jose Maria Velasco, 1901
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle color and value changes. It also provides practice in rendering realistic foliage and architectural forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the horizon line and the placement of major elements.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft cloud formations.
- step 03
Establish the distant mountains with muted purples and blues, using lighter values for the more distant peaks.
- step 04
Lay in the mid-ground plains with a mix of greens, browns, and yellows, varying the tones to suggest depth.
- step 05
Paint the buildings and trees in the foreground, adding details and shadows to create form.
- step 06
Add the figures on the path, keeping them small in scale to maintain the perspective.
- step 07
Refine the details of the foreground, including the path, rocks, and vegetation.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use glazes of thinned color to create atmospheric effects.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overly saturated colors can flatten the image.
- →Lack of value contrast can make the painting appear dull.
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective will reduce the sense of depth.
- →Too much detail in the background will distract from the focal point.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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