plate no. 1862

House at the Achterweg

oilFauvismcityscapebuildinghousestreet lampflowerswindowsbrick

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create texture and form. It also encourages observation of light and shadow to define shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, lamp post, and flower boxes, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the sky, brick, and foliage using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on the brick texture and the light hitting the building.
step 04
Add details to the windows, lamp post, and flowers, using thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adjusting as needed to match the original painting.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and orange for the brick using burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the lamp post and window reflections. Mix greens with yellow ochre and viridian green for the foliage.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Applying paint too thinly, lacking texture and depth.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.
→Getting lost in details too early.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife