plate no. 1773

Houses on the Outskirts of Bucharest

Iosif Iser, 1930

oilImpressionismlandscapehousestreeslandscapeskybuildingscityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using loose brushstrokes to suggest form rather than define it precisely. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.

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 houses, trees, and the distant building, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general layout of the composition.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the background trees.
step 04
Add the mid-ground houses, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 05
Develop the foreground with more detail, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add details such as windows, rooftops, and foliage.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · cerulean blue · burnt sienna

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and sap green. Achieve muted tones by adding small amounts of raw umber or burnt sienna to other colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating overly saturated colors; remember to mute the colors for a realistic effect.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.
→Ignoring the importance of value in creating depth.