plate no. 1639
Venice
Emil Carlsen, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing subtle color variations to create a sense of depth and mood. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, shoreline, and distant cityscape.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the sky, water, and land with thin washes.
- step 03
Develop the colors of the buildings, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
- step 04
Add details to the architectural elements, such as windows and rooflines, using small brushstrokes.
- step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
- step 06
Refine the details in the water, adding subtle reflections and highlights.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the sense of light and depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson
Achieve the muted tones by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber, yellow ochre, and touches of blue or sienna. Use glazes of diluted color to build depth and atmosphere.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Creating too much contrast and losing the subtle atmospheric quality.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not muted enough.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure early on.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
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