plate no. 0854

Como

Ossip Zadkine, 1925

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingshillsskytreescityscapefence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into geometric shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive color scheme. It also provides an opportunity to explore expressive brushwork and create a sense of depth through layering.

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, hills, and foreground elements, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray, leaving some areas lighter to suggest clouds.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the hills, buildings, and foreground, using a limited palette of greens, grays, and browns.
step 04
Add darker values to create shadows and define the forms of the buildings and hills.
step 05
Introduce secondary colors like yellows and pinks to add warmth and variation to the color scheme.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features, using a smaller brush.
step 07
Add the fence and other foreground elements, paying attention to perspective and scale.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and expressive composition.

color palette

primary · gray · green · brown · white

secondary · yellow · pink

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows with a touch of brown or black to mute the colors. Achieve grays by mixing black and white, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques