plate no. 7732

Street Scene in Prague

Maria Bozoky, 1981

mixed techniqueExpressionismcityscapecityscapetreesbuildingfigurestreetarchway

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and expressive line work. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the archway, buildings, trees, and figure.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow and blue for the sky.
step 03
Add a light wash of beige/cream for the wall and buildings.
step 04
Paint the trees with loose washes of green, yellow, and hints of red.
step 05
Use darker shades of brown and purple to define the archway and shadows.
step 06
Add the figure with simple shapes and lines, using purple and black.
step 07
Define details with expressive lines using a fine-tipped pen or brush.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights with white or light-colored paint.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · alizarin crimson · titanium white

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Create muted browns by mixing complementary colors like blue and orange. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques