plate no. 2253

The Beautiful Village

Maurice de Vlaminck, 1911

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapevillagehousestreeslandscapehillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and expressive landscape. It also encourages experimentation with visible brushstrokes to add texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the village, trees, and hills, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and background hills.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the trees and shadows on the houses.
step 04
Add the lighter values to the houses and foreground, defining their forms.
step 05
Mix and apply the roof colors, varying the shades slightly for interest.
step 06
Refine the details of the houses, adding windows and other architectural elements.
step 07
Add highlights to the trees and foreground to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall balance of colors and values.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Cadmium Red · Yellow Ochre

secondary · Burnt Umber · Sap Green

Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue and Yellow Ochre. Create variations in the whites by adding small amounts of blue or yellow. Darken colors with Burnt Umber.

techniques

·Blocking in
·Impasto
·Color mixing
·Scumbling
·Simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking details
→Using too many colors
→Ignoring value contrast
→Not simplifying the scene enough

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber)
·Round brushes (#4, #8)
·Flat brushes (#6, #10)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits