plate no. 1899
View of Galaxidi
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing color mixing to achieve realistic water tones and learning to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. Students will also develop skills in creating reflections and atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line, mountain range, and the general placement of the town.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, mountains, and water, using thin washes.
- step 03
Add the basic shapes of the buildings, focusing on their placement and proportion.
- step 04
Begin refining the mountain details, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
- step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using vertical strokes and slightly desaturated colors.
- step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roofs, keeping them simple and stylized.
- step 07
Refine the sky and clouds, adding subtle variations in color and value.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the water and buildings.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · cerulean blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium orange · sap green
Mix blues and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Create the water by mixing ultramarine blue with white, and a touch of raw umber for depth. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the buildings, and mix greens and browns for the mountains.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the buildings, making them too realistic.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.
- →Not paying attention to the values, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
- →Making the reflections too perfect and symmetrical.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x24
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·rags
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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