plate no. 7625

Segovia landscape, Spain

Rubén de Luis, 2021

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapecityscapeskyfieldbuildingshills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into manageable shapes and forms. It's a good exercise in atmospheric perspective and color mixing for natural light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the city and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually adding subtle variations.
step 03
Establish the distant mountains with a muted purple-blue, paying attention to their soft edges.
step 04
Lay in the basic shapes of the city buildings using a light ochre and white mix, keeping the details minimal.
step 05
Define the foreground field with a base layer of yellow ochre and raw umber.
step 06
Add texture to the field using short, broken brushstrokes of various greens, browns, and whites.
step 07
Paint the small building in the midground with a mix of burnt sienna and raw umber.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · sky blue · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and green by combining yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of blue. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the city, losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast in the foreground, flattening the perspective.
→Using pure colors without mixing, resulting in an unnatural look.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and field.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints: sky blue, yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, sap green
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brush (#8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil