plate no. 8198

Red roofs

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsroofscityscapeshadowstreeschimneys

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and practice color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone. It also provides practice in observing and rendering light and shadow.

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 roofs, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the buildings, roofs, and foliage using simplified, flat tones.
step 03
Mix and apply the shadow colors, paying attention to the direction of light and the shapes of the shadows.
step 04
Refine the shapes of the buildings and roofs, adding details like windows and chimneys.
step 05
Add subtle variations in color and tone to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Define the edges of the shapes with slightly darker or lighter tones.
step 07
Add final details like the cross on the chimney and the texture of the foliage.
step 08
Step back and make any necessary adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · olive green

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre with small amounts of burnt sienna and white to achieve the various shades of the buildings. Use olive green mixed with raw umber and white for the foliage. Create the roof color by mixing burnt sienna with a touch of raw umber.

techniques