plate no. 1575
Houses
Tove Jansson, 1962
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in abstracting forms and using expressive brushstrokes to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, focusing on their placement and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, using a limited palette of primary and secondary colors.
- step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
- step 04
Introduce lighter values to represent highlights and create contrast.
- step 05
Use expressive brushstrokes to add texture and movement to the painting.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and colors, paying attention to the relationships between them.
- step 07
Add small details to suggest architectural features and create visual interest.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
secondary · viridian green · burnt umber
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and create various browns and grays by mixing complementary colors with white.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·color blocking
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the initial brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and details.
- →Ignoring the relationships between colors and values.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·mineral spirits or water
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a palette knife for applying thick layers of paint.
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