plate no. 3050

Minorets

Mary Fedden, 1968

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)cityscapebuildingsarchitecturetreesskycityscapepalm trees

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students will learn to create a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette and visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and sun, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of purple, leaving space for the sun.
step 03
Paint the ground with a dark olive green, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 04
Add the main colors for the buildings, using simplified shapes and flat colors.
step 05
Paint the palm trees with light green and grey, using vertical strokes for the trunks and broader strokes for the leaves.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, arches, and decorative elements, using lighter and darker shades of the base colors.
step 07
Paint the sun with a warm orange, blending it slightly into the surrounding sky.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · purple · olive green · orange · light green

secondary · grey · pink · black · white

Mix the olive green by combining yellow, blue, and a touch of brown. Create variations of purple by adding white or a touch of red. Use white to lighten the other colors.

techniques