plate no. 6865

Gabès Cityscape

Samuel Mutzner, 1921

oilImpressionismgenre paintingcityscapefiguresbuildingsmarketarchessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow in an outdoor scene and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. Students will also practice painting figures in a crowd and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and figures, focusing on composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the buildings.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and ground.
step 04
Add the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their placement and interaction.
step 05
Develop the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and figures, adding texture and interest.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values to create a harmonious and unified painting.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · violet · raw sienna

Mix various shades of white with yellow ochre and burnt umber for the buildings and ground. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of red for warmth. Mix violet with white for the shadows.

techniques

·dry brush
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast and losing the subtle color variations.
→Failing to simplify the figures and making them too detailed.
→Not establishing a clear focal point and creating a confusing composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·titanium white oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush
·palette

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a limited palette of colors to create a harmonious and unified painting. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and create a smoother application.

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