plate no. 6448

Postcard

Tarsila do Amaral, 1928

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)landscapelandscapetreesfigureshousesskywater

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students will also learn about creating depth using color and size variations.

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 landscape, focusing on the placement of the trees, houses, and water.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, ensuring even coverage.
step 03
Paint the ground with a flat green, varying the shade slightly for depth.
step 04
Add the basic shapes of the trees, using a light orange for the main tree and darker greens for the foliage.
step 05
Paint the houses with white and red roofs, keeping the details simple.
step 06
Fill in the water with a blue that is slightly darker than the sky.
step 07
Add the figures in the tree with a light tan color.
step 08
Refine the shapes and colors, adding subtle variations to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · sky blue · light green · orange · white

secondary · dark green · red · yellow · tan

Mix different shades of green by adding small amounts of blue or yellow to the base green. Create the orange by mixing red and yellow, and adjust the shade by adding white or brown.

techniques

·color blocking
·flat washes
·simplified shapes
·layering
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the shapes and details.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Not paying attention to the relative sizes of the objects.
→Making the colors too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic paints (sky blue, light green, orange, white, dark green, red, yellow, tan)
·Round brushes (#4, #8)
·Flat brush (#6)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels