plate no. 1998

Alley of Itri

Antonio Sicurezza, 1970

oil, panelPost-Impressionismcityscapealleybuildingsarchitecturecityscapearchesshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, as well as practice applying thick, expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch to establish the basic composition and perspective of the alleyway.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the buildings, arches, and ground using simplified color masses.
step 03
Begin layering colors to define the light and shadow areas, focusing on the subtle shifts in tone.
step 04
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to add texture to the walls and ground.
step 05
Mix a range of greens, browns, and blues to represent the shadows and variations in the stone and vegetation.
step 06
Refine the details of the architectural elements, such as windows and doorways.
step 07
Add highlights to the sunlit areas to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Step back and make final adjustments to the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · viridian green

Achieve the off-white tones of the buildings by mixing titanium white with small amounts of raw umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Create the shadow colors by blending raw umber, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of light and shadow.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the buildings and ground.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·turpentine

optional

·painting medium
·varnish
·easel

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the effect of the impasto brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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