plate no. 0975

Balchik - Steps

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingstepsarchitectureskyroofwindows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto techniques and understanding how to create form with thick, visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural shapes.

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 of the building and stairs.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, building walls, roof, and stairs.
step 03
Begin applying thicker paint with visible brushstrokes, focusing on the direction of light and form.
step 04
Add details to the windows, roof, and architectural elements using smaller brushes.
step 05
Build up texture on the walls and stairs with impasto techniques, using a palette knife or thick brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the color variations and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry thoroughly.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow

Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the off-white tones of the walls and stairs. Use ultramarine and white for the sky, adding touches of cerulean for variation. Mix red and yellow for the roof, adding umber to darken the tones.

techniques