plate no. 6082

St. Mary's Church with the Arrow

Lyonel Feininger, 1926

oilCubismcityscapebuildingschurcharchitecturecityscapesky

some experience helpful

This painting is a great exercise in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and understanding how to create depth through overlapping planes and subtle color variations. Recreating this will help students develop skills in color mixing and abstracting reality.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes of the buildings and sky, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background (sky and lighter building areas).
step 03
Gradually build up the darker values in the foreground buildings, using thin layers of paint.
step 04
Pay attention to the subtle color variations within each shape, mixing slightly different hues to add depth.
step 05
Define the edges of the shapes with darker lines or by contrasting adjacent colors.
step 06
Add small details like the windows and architectural features.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Let dry and add a varnish layer.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Sienna · Titanium White

secondary · Payne's Gray · Cadmium Red Light · Viridian

Mix blues and yellows with white for the sky. Create the building colors by mixing burnt sienna with blues, yellows, and white. Use Payne's Gray to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques

·Color layering
·Geometric abstraction
·Limited palette mixing
·Dry brushing
·Glazing

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the shapes; keep them simple and geometric.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing; strive for subtle variations.
→Losing the sense of depth by making all the shapes equally dark or light.
→Not paying attention to the edges of the shapes; they should be crisp and defined.