plate no. 7716

Market Square, Segovia, Spain

Ernest Lawson, 1916

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapecathedralmarketbuildingsfiguresskycityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, using visible brushstrokes to create texture, and simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in depicting a bustling scene with many figures and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cathedral, market stalls, and figures using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, buildings, and ground using thin washes of color.
step 03
Start building up the texture of the cathedral with short, visible brushstrokes, focusing on light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the market stalls and figures, using thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Work on the sky and clouds, blending the colors softly.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the composition as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian green

Mix various shades of beige and brown for the buildings by combining yellow ochre, raw umber, and white. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Create greens by mixing cerulean blue and yellow ochre.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·dry brush
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Over-blending the colors and losing the texture.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, cerulean blue, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits