plate no. 1667

Plovdiv

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapefiguresstreetarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and interest. It's also a good exercise in color mixing to achieve muted and earthy tones.

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 and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of a neutral color (e.g., raw umber) to tone the canvas.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the buildings, sky, and ground with broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply the colors for the stone wall, focusing on capturing the texture and variations in tone.
step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and limited detail, using dark colors for the clothing.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to match the original painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · emerald green

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) with white or raw umber. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow to brighten the earth tones.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the buildings.
→Creating a flat, lifeless painting by not paying attention to value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints
·Round brushes (#4, #8)
·Flat brushes (#6, #10)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·rags

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the rough, textured look of the painting. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein