plate no. 4762

Small Landscape, Viareggio

Max Beckmann, 1925

oil, canvasExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingseaboatsstreettrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive mood. It also provides experience with layering and 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
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the building, street, and boats.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, sea, sand, building, and trees.
step 03
Add the darker tones for shadows and outlines of the main shapes.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the building, including the windows and roofline.
step 05
Add details to the boats, including the sails and reflections in the water.
step 06
Work on the street, adding the dark zig-zag shapes and variations in tone.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees and foliage.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, black, and a touch of blue or brown. Achieve the sand color by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and white. The sea is created by mixing Prussian blue with white and a touch of yellow.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·layering
·simplification
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the details too early in the process.
→Using too many colors and losing the cohesive mood.
→Not paying attention to the value relationships between the different elements.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, Prussian blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·Round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags