plate no. 7922

Houses at Ceret

Chaim Soutine, 1920

oil, canvasExpressionismlandscapebuildingstreeslandscapehousesskyvillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to convey mood and atmosphere. It also encourages simplification of complex forms into basic shapes and planes.

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 and composition of the buildings and landscape.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, focusing on the dark areas first.
step 04
Use thick, expressive brushstrokes to define the forms and create texture.
step 05
Mix colors directly on the canvas to achieve the desired effects.
step 06
Add highlights and details to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Continuously compare your painting to the original, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Browns are achieved by mixing burnt umber with cadmium red and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·alla prima
·expressive brushwork
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Not paying attention to the overall color harmony.
→Being too timid with the brushstrokes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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