plate no. 7157

Spotty House

Vajda Lajos, 1936

oilCubismcityscapehousearchitecturewindowstreesnightcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and using pointillism to create texture and depth. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve muted and harmonious tones.

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 house and surrounding foliage, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, house walls, roof, and ground, using diluted washes.
step 03
Mix the specific colors for the windows, doors, and other architectural details.
step 04
Begin applying the pointillist dots to the foliage and ground, varying the colors and density to create depth and texture.
step 05
Add darker tones to the shadowed areas of the house and foliage to enhance the contrast.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes and adjust the colors as needed.
step 07
Add final details to the windows and doors.
step 08
Let dry completely.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber · Titanium white

secondary · Sap green · Cadmium yellow light · Ultramarine blue

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre and Prussian blue. Achieve the dark purplish-gray of the sky by blending Prussian blue, burnt umber, and a touch of white. The house walls are variations of yellow ochre and sap green, lightened with white.

techniques

·Pointillism
·Color mixing
·Layering
·Simplifying forms
·Diluted washes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the pointillist dots, resulting in a flat or muddy appearance.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, losing the muted and harmonious effect.
→Neglecting the underlying structure of the house and foliage, resulting in a distorted or unrealistic composition.
→Not varying the size and density of the dots, creating a monotonous texture.