plate no. 1788

Minaret la Balcic

Samuel Mutzner, 1935

oilImpressionismcityscapeseabuildingsminarettreesskyrooftops

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic forms. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle color variations in natural light.

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, minaret, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky and sea with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall color temperature.
step 03
Establish the main colors of the buildings and trees, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin adding details to the minaret, using lighter and darker tones to create form.
step 05
Develop the foliage with broken brushstrokes, varying the greens and browns.
step 06
Refine the rooftops and walls, adding subtle color variations and textures.
step 07
Add the sailboat in the distance.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · alizarin crimson

Mix the sea color by combining cerulean blue, white, and a touch of yellow. Achieve the sky's soft hues by blending white with small amounts of yellow, pink, and blue. Create variations in the building colors by mixing raw umber with burnt sienna and white.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
→Neglecting the importance of value in creating depth.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the sense of texture.