plate no. 7351

The Church of the Pantanassa, Naxos

Konstantinos Maleas, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingtreesskyarchitecturelandscapechurch

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create texture and understanding how light affects color, especially on white surfaces. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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 building, tree, and horizon line, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, sea, distant land, building, tree, and foreground.
step 03
Begin layering paint on the building, using different values of white and gray to create form and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the tree, focusing on the shapes of the leaves and branches.
step 05
Refine the colors and values in the sky and sea, creating a sense of depth.
step 06
Add details to the architecture, such as windows and arches.
step 07
Work on the foreground, adding texture and detail to the wall.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of white by adding small amounts of blue, umber, and ochre. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, adjusting the ratio for different tones. Use burnt sienna to create the warm tones in the distant land and tree trunks.

techniques