plate no. 5489
Italian Landscape
Ben Shahn, 1944
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified figure drawing and architectural rendering with a limited color palette. It will also encourage exploration of expressive brushstrokes to create texture and mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of figures and architectural elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ground, and the dark figures.
- step 03
Add details to the architectural elements, such as the brickwork and arches.
- step 04
Refine the figures, paying attention to their simplified forms and gestures.
- step 05
Add the tree and the dark cloud in the sky.
- step 06
Introduce subtle color variations in the ground and sky to create depth.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figures and architectural elements.
color palette
primary · black · white · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue
Mix black and white to create various shades of gray for the figures and architecture. Use burnt umber and white for the ground, and add a touch of blue to create cooler tones in the sky.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·simplified figure drawing
- ·limited palette
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the simplified and expressive style.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value contrast.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the figures and architecture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Acrylic paints
- ·Canvas or paper
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Easel
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Using a textured canvas can enhance the expressive brushwork. Consider using a limited palette of acrylic paints for easy cleanup.
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