plate no. 4840

Landscape

oilCubismlandscapearchitecturelandscapetreesfigureskybuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes and practice color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations within a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes of the buildings, trees, and figure.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ground, and building walls.
step 03
Mix and apply the base colors for the sky, using lighter blues near the horizon and darker blues towards the top.
step 04
Add the shadows and highlights to the buildings, using a mix of grays and the base wall color.
step 05
Paint the trees with a mix of greens, browns, and yellows, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add the figure using a simple silhouette and subtle shading.
step 07
Refine the details and edges of the shapes, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 08
Add final touches to the shadows and highlights to create depth.

color palette

primary · sky blue · tan · gray · yellow

secondary · brown · green · white

Mix various shades of tan and gray by combining white, brown, and a touch of blue. Achieve the greens for the trees by mixing blue and yellow, and adjusting with brown for muted tones.

techniques

·geometric abstraction
·color blocking
·tonal variation
·broken brushstrokes
·simplified forms

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the shapes and details.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
→Ignoring the overall composition and balance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Rags or paper towels

optional

·Medium (for oil paints)
·Easel
·Reference photo print

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the broken brushstroke effect. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly, but oils will allow for smoother blending.

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