plate no. 9809
Island Samos
Sloba Pajkovic, 2017
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in applying thick paint with visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, mountains, and sea, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main colors: white for the building, blue for the sky and shutters, orange for the roof, and dark blue/black for the sea.
- step 03
Apply thicker paint to the building, using visible brushstrokes to create texture and suggest light and shadow.
- step 04
Mix variations of white with small amounts of other colors (blue, yellow, orange) to create subtle shifts in the building's surface.
- step 05
Add details to the shutters and window, using a smaller brush.
- step 06
Paint the mountains with muted blues and grays, blending the colors slightly to create a sense of distance.
- step 07
Add the foliage with short, broken strokes of green.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
secondary · cadmium orange · sap green · raw umber
Mix various shades of white by adding small amounts of blue, yellow, or orange. Create the dark sea by mixing ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and a touch of black. Muted greens can be achieved by mixing sap green with raw umber or burnt sienna.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the paint and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the building and landscape.
- →Getting the values wrong, especially in the shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, cadmium orange, sap green, raw umber)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use good quality oil paints for best results. A medium can help with blending and drying time.
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