plate no. 5337

Celebrating City

Ervin Tamas, 1964

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsflagscrowdstreettrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey atmosphere. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve a cohesive, muted 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 general placement of the crowd.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the buildings, using a limited palette of grays, browns, and creams.
step 04
Add the darker tones for shadows and details in the buildings, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the crowd in the foreground as a mass of dark shapes, suggesting individual figures with quick, gestural strokes.
step 06
Introduce the red flags, using bold, impasto strokes to create a focal point.
step 07
Add touches of green for the trees and other vegetation.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · gray · white · black · red

secondary · brown · green · cream

Achieve the various shades of gray by mixing black and white, and add small amounts of brown or blue to create subtle variations. The red is used pure, but can be toned down with a touch of brown for the darker areas.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·limited palette
·alla prima
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Making the colors too saturated and bright, which will detract from the muted atmosphere.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Getting bogged down in the details of the crowd, instead of focusing on the overall shape and gesture.