plate no. 2488

Jerusalem Seen from the South

Avigdor Arikha, 1980

oil, canvasContemporary Realismlandscapelandscapehillsskyarchitecturecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and using a limited palette to achieve tonal harmony. It also provides practice in capturing texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a neutral ground.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes and horizon line.
step 03
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale blue and white.
step 04
Establish the basic values of the hills using a mixture of burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white.
step 05
Build up layers of paint, varying the color and value to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add details to the architectural elements, keeping them subtle and muted.
step 07
Use short, directional brushstrokes to suggest vegetation and terrain.
step 08
Soften edges and blend areas to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve the various earth tones by mixing yellow ochre and burnt umber in different proportions. Add white to lighten the values and ultramarine blue to cool the tones.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·tonal painting
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·rags