plate no. 7905

Burnt Village in Mytilini

Spyros Papaloukas, 1925

oilExpressionismlandscapevillagehillstreeshousesskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color to define form and create depth. It also provides practice in applying paint with visible brushstrokes to build texture.

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 hills, village, and trees, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general placement of the major elements.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, hills, and trees using thinned paint.
step 04
Add the darker tones to define the shadows and create depth in the hills and trees.
step 05
Begin adding details to the village, focusing on the shapes of the houses and their roofs.
step 06
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to add texture to the hills and trees.
step 07
Refine the details of the village and add highlights to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · Prussian blue · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix the hill colors by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Create the greens for the trees by mixing Prussian blue and yellow ochre. Use red and white for the roofs.

techniques