plate no. 1013

Vesuvius Seen from the Island of Capri

oilRomanticismlandscapevolcanoseafiguresrocksskybuildings

some experience helpful

This painting provides a good exercise in atmospheric perspective and creating a sense of depth through layering and color variations. Students will also practice rendering figures and architectural details in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: volcano, land masses, and figures.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and raw sienna to the sky and distant land.
step 03
Add a slightly darker wash of burnt sienna and raw umber to the foreground rocks.
step 04
Paint the sea with a mix of ultramarine blue and burnt umber, varying the intensity.
step 05
Add details to the figures and buildings using a fine brush and darker shades of brown and gray.
step 06
Create the volcano's smoke with diluted gray and pink washes, blending softly.
step 07
Layer darker values to define the shadows and textures of the rocks and land.
step 08
Add final highlights with touches of white or light yellow.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · titanium white · gray

Mix yellow ochre and raw sienna for the warm highlights. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create various shades of gray for the sea and volcano. Add white to lighten colors and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering washes
·dry brush texture
·rendering figures
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Not creating enough contrast between foreground and background.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, raw sienna, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brush
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels