plate no. 7656

Catholic Church in Cimpulung

oilRealismcityscapechurchbuildingsfiguresstreetskytown

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited palette to create a harmonious color scheme. It also provides practice in capturing atmospheric perspective and suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the church tower, rooftops, and the basic placement of figures.
step 02
Establish the overall warm, muted color tone by applying a thin wash of yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the entire canvas.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the buildings and figures using a mix of burnt umber and a touch of ultramarine blue.
step 04
Add the sky with a light wash of yellow ochre and white, blending it softly.
step 05
Begin refining the shapes of the buildings, adding details like windows and architectural features with a small brush.
step 06
Suggest the figures in the street with simple strokes of white, ochre, and brown.
step 07
Add highlights to the buildings and figures to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Soften edges and blend colors to create a hazy, atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre and white for the sky and lighter building surfaces. Use burnt sienna and burnt umber for the darker tones of the buildings and figures. Add a touch of ultramarine blue to the darks to create depth.

techniques