plate no. 2961

Houses in Argeș Valley

oilImpressionismlandscapebuildingslandscapetreesroadfiguresky

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning impasto techniques and how to create depth using color temperature and value. Students will also practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, mountains, road, and trees, focusing on composition.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of white, grey, and light blue.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the mountains and trees using warm reds, oranges, and browns.
step 04
Define the buildings with ochre, white, and touches of blue for shadows.
step 05
Paint the road using a mix of browns, yellows, and whites, varying the color and value to suggest depth.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using darker tones.
step 07
Use thick impasto strokes to create texture and highlights on the buildings and road.
step 08
Add the figure in the foreground with simple shapes and colors.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · raw umber

Mix ochre and white for the sunlit areas of the buildings and road. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for shadows and darker areas. Add small amounts of blue to darken colors and create cooler shadows.

techniques