Ralph Hulett on mood

From my father's Walter Foster book, "Painting City & Village Streets Around The World," the steps towards the cover illustration at the right. (Click on the images for a full-sized version.)

Down the Street from the Roman Forum, we see one of the most famous ruins in the world, the Colosseum. This huge amphitheater was constructed about two thousand years ago. It comfortably seated forty=five thousand people. For many years, after the fall of Rome, People hauled away parts of it to make lesser buildings. In the 1700s Pope Benedict XIV saved the building from complete destruction. Today the Colosseum appears the same as when Benedict issued his edict.

1. At this point we know what the composition consists of. We want a fluid sky (in movement) that will play against an architectural shape.

2. Introduce strong values in the foreground and sky. The light and dark pattern starts to emerge.

3. Bring the dark shapes down into the foreground. Thsi helps give the composition a solid foundation

4. Bring more local color into the scene such as green in the foliage, and red into the sky.

5. Once the general balance of the picture is set we will use the painting knife to set the textures and the color.