plate no. 3358

Kifissia

Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, 1973

oilCubismlandscapebuildingstreeslandscapegardenarchitecturevegetation

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene rather than a photorealistic representation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the forms, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow.
step 04
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 05
Define the edges of shapes with darker colors to create contrast.
step 06
Add details such as windows, tiles, and foliage using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final touches to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing ochre, burnt umber, and white. Create variations of green by mixing ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow with white. Use small amounts of red to warm up the browns.

techniques