plate no. 4510

Street in Trencsén

Lajos Tihanyi, 1912

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapestreetbuildingstreesskyhouseshill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and practice using color temperature to create depth and form. Students will also learn how to create a sense of light and shadow using bold brushstrokes.

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 composition, paying attention to the perspective of the street.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the road.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows and create contrast.
step 04
Paint the buildings and trees, simplifying their forms and focusing on their color relationships.
step 05
Refine the details, such as the telephone poles and the fences.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 07
Check the overall balance of the painting and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Vary the greens by adding small amounts of burnt sienna or white. Create the road color by mixing burnt sienna with white and a touch of yellow ochre. Use white to lighten the blues for the sky.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to simplify the forms and creating a cluttered composition.
→Not paying attention to the color relationships and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.
→Getting the perspective wrong, which will ruin the sense of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) to allow for sufficient detail without being overwhelming. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly due to their faster drying time.

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