plate no. 5563
Via San Leonardo
suitable for beginners
This painting is a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes and understanding color temperature shifts in shadows. Students will practice creating depth through subtle value changes and color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and tree.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, buildings, and street.
- step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and lightest highlights.
- step 04
Refine the shapes of the buildings and tree, paying attention to angles and proportions.
- step 05
Add subtle color variations to the buildings and street to create depth.
- step 06
Soften edges where needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add details to the tree to define its form.
- step 08
Review and adjust values and colors as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green
Mix various shades of yellow ochre with small amounts of ultramarine blue to create the different tones of the buildings. Use burnt sienna to warm up the roof colors. Mix viridian green with yellow ochre and a touch of blue to create the tree's color.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·blocking in
- ·soft blending
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes of the buildings.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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