plate no. 7780
Church tower at Domburg
Piet Mondrian, 1911
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and explore color relationships to create depth and atmosphere. Students will also practice layering and blending colors to achieve the desired effect.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church tower and its surroundings, focusing on proportions and angles.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: red/orange for the tower, blue for the windows and ground, and green/blue for the sky.
- step 03
Begin layering and blending colors within each area to create variations in tone and suggest form.
- step 04
Use darker blues and purples to define shadows on the tower and add depth to the ground.
- step 05
Add the blue geometric shapes in the sky, varying their size and placement.
- step 06
Refine the edges of the tower and the shapes in the sky to create a sense of clarity.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the small windows and architectural details.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · viridian green
secondary · purple · orange
Mix red and blue to create various shades of purple for shadows. Mix blue and green for the sky. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·blocking
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·color mixing
- ·geometric abstraction
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the proportions of the tower.
- →Making the geometric shapes too uniform and predictable.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use good quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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