plate no. 9222
Saint George Cathedral
Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1932
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a vibrant, textured landscape. It also encourages observation of light and shadow to suggest form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the cathedral, the hill, and the road.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes.
- step 03
Build up layers of paint with thicker, more visible brushstrokes.
- step 04
Focus on capturing the overall color harmony and light effects.
- step 05
Add details to the cathedral and surrounding foliage.
- step 06
Refine the road and foreground elements.
- step 07
Adjust values and colors to enhance the sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
secondary · sap green · cadmium red · titanium white
Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create warm browns by mixing burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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