plate no. 1677

Les Variétés nationales, Zirkus in Rapperswil

Varlin, 1940

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurescircusstreetskybicycle

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes and capturing movement with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve muted tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas, focusing on the placement of the buildings and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and ground using thin washes.
step 03
Add the darker values for the buildings and figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Define the shapes of the buildings and figures with slightly thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details such as the circus sign, bicycle, and ladder, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the tones to match the original painting.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Let it dry and add a varnish layer.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix white with small amounts of black and yellow ochre to achieve the muted gray and beige tones. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker values for the buildings and figures.

techniques