plate no. 9010

Belvedere

oilExpressionismlandscapebuildingstreeslandscapehillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive color scheme. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes.

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 buildings and the hill in the background, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending it slightly towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of the hill using a mix of dark green and brown.
step 04
Paint the roofs of the buildings with a reddish-brown color, varying the tone slightly to suggest light and shadow.
step 05
Block in the main body of the buildings with a light off-white color, adding subtle variations in tone to suggest form and light.
step 06
Add the dark accents of the windows and other architectural details.
step 07
Paint the trees in the foreground with dark greens and browns, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the buildings and trees to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cerulean blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix the building colors by adding small amounts of burnt umber and yellow ochre to titanium white. Achieve the greens for the hills and trees by mixing cerulean blue, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·value control
·simplifying forms

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall simplicity of the painting.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, making the painting appear flat.
→Not paying attention to the relative sizes and positions of the buildings, resulting in a distorted composition.