plate no. 8039

Neighborhood in Mexico

Arturo Souto, 1951

lithography, paperPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsfigureshillskystreetarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create texture and capturing a sense of place with simplified forms. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hill, and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue, allowing some of the paper to show through.
step 03
Apply a base layer of color to the buildings, using a mix of white, blue, and a touch of yellow.
step 04
Add darker values to the shadows on the buildings and hill, using browns and blues.
step 05
Layer in the colors of the hill, using greens, browns, and yellows to create texture and depth.
step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and colors, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 07
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using a fine brush.
step 08
Refine the overall composition by adjusting colors, values, and details as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red light

Mix white with small amounts of blue and yellow to create the pale tones of the buildings. Use umber and sienna to create earth tones for the hill and street. Add small amounts of red to warm up the browns.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·color layering
·simplified forms
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Creating overly saturated colors that clash with the muted palette.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
→Making the figures too detailed or realistic, which would detract from the overall style.