plate no. 0206

Abbey Koutloumousiou

Spyros Papaloukas, 1924

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingslandscapetreeshillscityscapearchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color to create depth and atmosphere. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a place rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hills, and trees, focusing on overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue-green, allowing some areas to remain lighter.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the buildings using ochre, yellow, and white, varying the tones slightly.
step 04
Paint the foliage with different shades of green, mixing in yellow and brown for variation.
step 05
Add the red roofs and other details to the buildings, using a small brush.
step 06
Define the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and add texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create variations in the greens by adding white, raw umber, or burnt sienna. Achieve the building colors by mixing yellow ochre with white and small amounts of burnt sienna.

techniques