plate no. 4013

Geraniums

Corneliu Michailescu, 1960

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingflowerspotsarchitectureplantsfacade

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve nuanced blues and greens, and practice applying thick, expressive brushstrokes to build form and texture. It also provides a good exercise in capturing light and shadow using color temperature rather than just value.

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 lightly on the canvas, paying attention to the perspective of the building.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and building facade using diluted paint.
step 03
Add the darker blues and purples to define the shadows and architectural details.
step 04
Paint the flower pots and plants, focusing on capturing the shapes and colors with bold brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply the colors of the flowers, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
step 06
Add highlights to the flowers and foliage to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the building and plants, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · sap green · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix blues with white and a touch of yellow ochre to create the various shades of the building. Use ultramarine blue and cadmium red to create the purples. Mix sap green with yellow ochre and white for foliage.

techniques