plate no. 7437

Anfiteatro Square in Formia

Antonio Sicurezza, 1974

oil, panelPost-Impressionismcityscapearchitecturearchesbuildingfigurecityscapeshadows

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 creating depth and perspective through the use of overlapping shapes and tonal values.

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 and composition, focusing on the arrangement of the arches and the overall perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the ground, then moving to the buildings and arches.
step 03
Mix and apply the various shades of white and gray to create the effect of light and shadow on the buildings.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the shadows and create depth within the arches.
step 05
Introduce the accent colors, such as the greens of the foliage and the pinks of the laundry, in small amounts.
step 06
Refine the details of the figure and the surrounding architecture, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 07
Add texture with visible brushstrokes, especially in the foreground and on the buildings.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · viridian · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of blue, umber, and yellow to create the subtle variations in the buildings. Use viridian and yellow for the greens, and alizarin crimson with white for the pinks.

techniques