plate no. 2164

Light

Petre Abrudan, 1961

oilExpressionismlandscapebuildingslandscapeskyhillarchitecture

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can learn to capture the essence of a scene without intricate details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the hill, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of blue.
step 03
Apply the main colors to the buildings and hill, using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Introduce secondary colors and details to the buildings.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the buildings and hill.
step 07
Add final touches and details to the foreground.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · raw umber

Mix white with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt sienna for the light-colored buildings. Combine blue and green for the darker areas of the buildings and sky. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·color blocking
·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Ignoring the overall composition and color harmony.
→Not establishing a clear light source.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, sap green, raw umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits