plate no. 7792

Main Square in Nagybánya

Lajos Tihanyi, 1908

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingstowntreesskystreetchurch

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color to create depth and atmosphere. It also provides practice in depicting perspective in a somewhat abstracted style.

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, church, and landscape, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, ground, buildings, and trees using thin washes.
step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and create depth in the buildings and trees.
step 04
Introduce the secondary colors to add interest and variation to the color palette.
step 05
Refine the details of the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using thicker paint.
step 06
Add highlights to the buildings and trees to create a sense of light and form.
step 07
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the trees and ground.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Mix yellow ochre with burnt umber and white to achieve the various shades of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker greens. Add cadmium red to the ground color for warmth.

techniques