plate no. 1828
Mangalia Houses
some experience helpful
This painting is a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene with loose brushstrokes and simplified forms. Students will learn to mix muted colors and create depth through atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, sea, and land.
- step 03
Establish the main shapes of the buildings with simplified forms.
- step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and rooflines.
- step 05
Develop the foreground vegetation with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to create interest.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cerulean blue
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green
Mix muted greens and grays by combining blues, browns, and whites. Achieve the roof colors by mixing reds and browns.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·simplified forms
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
- →Creating overly saturated colors that clash with the muted palette.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and failing to create depth.
- →Making the building shapes too precise and losing the simplified forms.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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