plate no. 8686

The Church of Ayia Aikaterini, Thessaloniki

Konstantinos Maleas, 1917

oilImpressionismlandscapechurchtowerbuildingtreesskyfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details with loose, expressive strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the church, tower, and surrounding landscape.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, allowing for subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the buildings, using a mix of pink, white, and ochre.
step 04
Add the greens of the trees and foliage, varying the shades and textures.
step 05
Develop the details of the architecture, using small brushstrokes to suggest form and shadow.
step 06
Paint the foreground, blending earth tones and greens to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add the figure, keeping it simple and understated.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the overall balance of the painting.

color palette

primary · sky blue · titanium white · rose madder · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix pinks by blending rose madder with white; create greens by combining yellow ochre and blue; use burnt umber and raw sienna for earth tones.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using too much detail
→Creating muddy colors
→Not capturing the light effect

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints (sky blue, titanium white, rose madder, yellow ochre, sap green, burnt umber, raw sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags