plate no. 3160

Edisviken

Tove Jansson, 1937

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapewaterbuildingsindustrialskylandscapehills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, hills, and water.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, leaving space for clouds.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the buildings, hills, and water using simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin layering colors within each area, using visible brushstrokes to define form and texture.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and structural elements.
step 06
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to color and value.
step 07
Add the small boat as a focal point.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · purple

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) and adding white to soften the intensity. Use a limited palette to maintain color harmony.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·layering
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Creating overly smooth surfaces, losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations within each area.
→Making the composition too symmetrical or static.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits