plate no. 3567
Houses in the Jordaan
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into geometric shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve the unique color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and outlines of the buildings, focusing on their geometric forms and relationships to each other.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas for each building and section of the sky, using simplified shapes and broad brushstrokes.
- step 03
Begin to refine the colors and values within each area, adding subtle variations and highlights to create depth and form.
- step 04
Add details such as windows, roof lines, and architectural features, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
- step 05
Pay attention to the negative space between the buildings and use color to define these areas.
- step 06
Introduce some of the brighter accent colors, such as the reds and yellows, to add visual interest and contrast.
- step 07
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to the colors, values, and shapes.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · violet
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) with white. Create the purples by blending blues and reds, and adjust the intensity with white or yellow.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·geometric abstraction
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified geometric forms.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Ignoring the negative space and focusing only on the buildings.
- →Failing to capture the overall mood and atmosphere of the scene.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits (for oil paint cleanup)
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow the paint to grab and create interesting textures.
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