plate no. 1419
The roofs
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice layering and color mixing to create depth and atmosphere. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of pale grey and lavender.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the buildings, using muted tones.
- step 04
Add the darker tones for the roofs and shadows.
- step 05
Layer in the foliage with various shades of green, yellow, and brown.
- step 06
Create the impression of blossoms with small dabs of white and pale yellow.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth.
- step 08
Add final touches to the foreground, suggesting grass and vegetation.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, green and red). Use white to lighten and soften colors.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using colors that are too bright
- →Ignoring the overall value structure
- →Not simplifying the forms
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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