Painting a Greek Temple

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

In the Spring of 1963, Ralph Hulett spent three months in the Mediterranean making a film for Swiss Air. He played an artist, so he was just right for the role.

He turned one of the paintings he did while in Greece into an art lesson for his first Walter Foster art book...

Standing high on the Acropolis in Athens, is the majestic Erechtheum. This beautiful structure is well-known throughout the civilized world. One part of the building, a small porch, is probably the most famous piece of art and architecture in the world. It is called the "Portico of the Maidens" (The Caryatids).

I visited this beautiful spot in late spring after a brief rain shower. The sun had reappeared, and the scene seemed to be bathed in golden sunlight. -- Ralph Hulett

Steps of Painting:

I established the composition, then I thinly washed in the general color (I used lighter fluid as a medium since it dries very quickly.)...

After the general color was established, I used a palette knife for the rest of the painting. I finished the textures of the building ad completed the reflections in the foreground. I used the edge of the painting knife for highlights on the building.

Limited palette (oils): Raw sienna, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue and white.