plate no. 2538

Houses in Lerici

oil, cardboardRealismlandscapebuildingslandscapeseascapeskyhillswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited palette to create harmonious color relationships. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hills, and coastline, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending it slightly towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the buildings using a mix of ochre, umber, and white, varying the tones to suggest light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted greens and blues to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add the dark blue of the sea, making it slightly lighter and grayer towards the horizon.
step 06
Define the stone wall in the foreground with varied ochre and white tones, adding small touches of green.
step 07
Add details like windows, shadows, and vegetation with small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and color harmony, adjusting values and edges as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · raw sienna

Achieve the building colors by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white in varying proportions. Muted greens are created with ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten and cool colors for the sky and distant hills.

techniques