plate no. 0421
Views of Rome,
Lili Elbe, 1910
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing loose brushwork to capture the texture of foliage and stone.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the fountain, trees, and distant buildings.
- step 02
Block in the sky and background with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the main shapes of the trees, using darker greens and browns.
- step 04
Paint the fountain, paying attention to the light and shadow on its surface.
- step 05
Add details to the cityscape in the background, using muted colors to create distance.
- step 06
Refine the water droplets and reflections in the fountain's basin.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.
- step 08
Review and adjust colors and values as needed.
color palette
primary · sap green · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue
Mix greens by blending sap green with raw umber and white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding white and a touch of blue to the colors in the background.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the background, which should remain soft and muted.
- →Making the colors too saturated, which will flatten the image.
- →Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
- →Not capturing the correct proportions of the fountain.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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