plate no. 1679

View of Ornans and Its Church Steeple

oil, canvasRealismlandscapelandscapechurchbuildingshillsskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through layering and value changes. It also offers practice in depicting architectural forms within a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the church steeple, hills, and foreground.
step 02
Establish the sky using a mix of gray and white, blending softly to create cloud formations.
step 03
Block in the distant hills and cliffs with varying shades of green and brown, using lighter values for areas further away.
step 04
Paint the church steeple and buildings, paying attention to their structure and the direction of light.
step 05
Add the trees and foliage, using darker greens and browns to create depth and texture.
step 06
Develop the foreground field with a base of green, adding subtle variations in color and value to suggest grass and shadows.
step 07
Refine details such as the small trees in the foreground and the architectural details of the church.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · viridian green · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray for the sky by combining white, raw umber, and a touch of blue. Achieve the greens for the landscape by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and raw umber. Use cadmium red and raw umber for the church steeple.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground, which can flatten the sense of depth.
→Using too much pure color without mixing, which can make the painting look unnatural.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, which can result in a muddy or indistinct image.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, viridian green, cadmium red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags