plate no. 9427

Breton House and Church

Pierre Daura, 1964

oilCubismcityscapebuildingschurchskyarchitecturelandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow with a limited color palette.

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 and the church tower, focusing on their relative proportions and angles.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, using thin washes to establish the overall tonal values.
step 03
Begin adding thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to define the forms and create texture.
step 04
Focus on capturing the light and shadow on the buildings, using contrasting colors to create depth.
step 05
Develop the sky with swirling brushstrokes, blending the colors to create a sense of movement.
step 06
Add details to the windows and architectural features, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting the colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and add small amounts of red or umber to create variations in the blue.

techniques