plate no. 7540

Street in Tangier

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1912

oilImpressionismgenre paintingstreetfiguresarchitecturearchwaybuildingsshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with expressive brushstrokes and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow.

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 and perspective of the archway, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, using thicker brushstrokes to define forms and create texture.
step 04
Pay attention to the light source and how it affects the colors and values in different areas.
step 05
Mix colors on the palette to match the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures and architectural elements, but maintain a loose and impressionistic style.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix blues and whites for the cool shadows on the buildings. Use yellow ochre and white for the sunlit areas. Add small amounts of red or umber to create warmer or cooler tones.

techniques