plate no. 1867

Procession in Toledo

Jose Gutierrez Solana, 1905

oilExpressionismgenre paintingprocessionfiguresrobesreligiousstreetcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmosphere and using a limited palette to create tonal variations. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a crowd and suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures and buildings, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Develop the dark robes, mixing browns and blacks to create subtle variations in tone.
step 05
Add the lighter areas of the figures and buildings, using creams and grays.
step 06
Define the details of the faces and hands, using small brushstrokes and subtle color changes.
step 07
Add the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the dark robes by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Use titanium white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or cadmium red light to warm up the browns and blacks.

techniques