plate no. 9626

The Berbes

Arturo Souto, 1963

watercolor, paperPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurescityscapeanimalsskystreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, creating atmospheric perspective, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals in a stylized manner.

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 buildings and figures, focusing on composition.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna.
step 03
Block in the darker values of the buildings and figures using a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using a smaller brush.
step 05
Paint the figures and animals with loose, expressive brushstrokes, focusing on capturing their gestures and poses.
step 06
Create atmospheric perspective by lightening the values of the background elements and softening their edges.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for dark shadows. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights on the buildings. Dilute colors with water for washes.

techniques