plate no. 9257

The Cathedral of Saint George. A Poem of the World War

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1922

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapebuildingcathedraltreesskycloudslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing atmospheric perspective through color and brushstroke variations. It also encourages expressive mark-making and understanding how to simplify complex forms into abstract shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the cathedral, trees, and foreground elements.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint.
step 04
Begin building up layers of color with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Focus on capturing the light and shadow patterns within the foliage and architecture.
step 06
Mix colors directly on the canvas to create a vibrant and textured surface.
step 07
Add details to the cathedral and foreground, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with touches of white. Use alizarin crimson and yellow ochre to create warm oranges and browns. Mix ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson for purples.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima
·optical mixing

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors on the palette, resulting in muddy tones.
→Losing the overall structure of the composition by focusing too much on details.
→Applying paint too thickly in the initial layers.
→Ignoring the importance of color temperature in creating depth.