plate no. 7598
Market Square
Bela Kadar, 1910
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing a busy scene with simplified forms and expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve a harmonious, slightly muted palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition: buildings, figures, horses, and umbrellas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background buildings and sky.
- step 03
Establish the general tones for the ground and figures, focusing on value relationships.
- step 04
Add details to the figures and horses, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Define the umbrellas and market stalls with short, directional strokes.
- step 06
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust the composition as needed.
- step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish layer.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ultramarine blue
Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm tones of the buildings and ground. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix green and blue for cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints: yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, ultramarine blue
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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