plate no. 2513

A RUMANIAN CHURCH IN TRANSYLVANIA

Marianne Stokes, 1909

oilImpressionismlandscapechurchlandscapefiguresarchitecturecrossfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and layering techniques to create depth in the landscape. Students will also learn to simplify complex architectural forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the church, shelter, cross, and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the ground plane with a base layer of muted brown and green tones.
step 04
Paint the church roof and walls, paying attention to the subtle color variations and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the shelter and cross, including the thatched roof and decorative elements.
step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and muted colors, suggesting their forms without excessive detail.
step 07
Refine the foreground with additional layers of color and texture, creating a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix raw umber and white for the muted earth tones. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of raw umber to dull the blue. Mix burnt sienna and cadmium red light for the red accents on the cross and building.

techniques