plate no. 3784

Tangier, Morocco

Kees van Dongen, 1911

oilOrientalismgenre paintingfiguresarchitecturecityscapearchwaysky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and expressive artwork. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of light and shadow with 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 of the archway, figures, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background sky and sea.
step 03
Establish the main values of the buildings and figures, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Refine the shapes of the figures and add details like the eyes.
step 05
Add the darker tones to the archway and the figure on the left.
step 06
Adjust the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall composition.
step 08
Step back and review the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · red · white · yellow · blue

secondary · brown · olive green

Mix white with small amounts of red, yellow, and blue to achieve the various off-white tones. Use blue and white for the sky, and mix brown and olive green for the figure on the left.

techniques