plate no. 5047

Entrance to the Casbah

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1912

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapearchitecturefiguresstepsarchwaylight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create luminosity and capturing the effects of light and shadow on architectural forms. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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, archway, and figures, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thinned paint.
step 03
Begin layering colors, starting with the background and working forward, using a limited palette.
step 04
Pay attention to the warm and cool color variations within the light and shadow areas.
step 05
Use broken brushstrokes to create texture and suggest details, avoiding hard edges.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the figures and architectural elements, adding subtle details where necessary.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix various shades of white with yellow ochre and small amounts of blue or sienna to create the light-filled walls. Use combinations of sienna, crimson, and blue to create the darker tones and shadows.

techniques