plate no. 2793

Karelia. Old House

Petros Malayan, 1983

oilExpressionismlandscapehousefigureslandscapefenceskybuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose watercolor techniques. Students will also learn how to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the house, figures, and fence.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre to the house, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
Paint the sky with a mix of blues and grays, using a wet-on-wet technique to create soft edges.
step 04
Add darker values to the shadows on the house and fence using burnt umber and Payne's gray.
step 05
Paint the figures with quick, loose strokes, focusing on capturing their general form.
step 06
Introduce secondary colors like greens and browns to the foreground to represent the ground and vegetation.
step 07
Add details to the fence and house using a fine brush and darker values.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · Payne's gray · burnt umber

secondary · cerulean blue · sap green · raw sienna

Mix Payne's gray with burnt umber to create dark shadows. Dilute yellow ochre with water to create light washes for the house. Use cerulean blue sparingly for the window and highlights.

techniques