plate no. 9750

Rooftops

Vasile Popescu, 1920

oilPost-Impressionismcityscaperooftopsbuildingschimneyscityscapeskyhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop their understanding of color temperature and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

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 rooftops, buildings, and hills, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and gray.
step 03
Apply a base layer of red and orange to the rooftops, varying the hues slightly to suggest different planes and light.
step 04
Add the darker values to the shadows on the buildings and rooftops, using a mix of burnt umber and red.
step 05
Paint the green hills in the background, blending the colors to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Add details such as chimneys, windows, and the small eye-like dormer, using a smaller brush.
step 07
Refine the brushstrokes and add texture to the rooftops and buildings.
step 08
Add final highlights to the chimneys and rooftops to create contrast.

color palette

primary · red · orange · yellow · white

secondary · blue · green · burnt umber · gray

Mix various shades of red and orange by adding yellow and burnt umber. Create the sky by mixing blue and white with a touch of gray. Achieve the green hills by blending green, yellow, and a small amount of brown.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brush texture
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the composition.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, making the painting look muddy.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a lack of texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 8)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 10)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium
·mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)

optional

·easel
·painting medium
·varnish

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.

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