plate no. 1148

The Strong Castle and the place of Andelys

Felix Vallotton, 1924

oil, canvasMagic Realismcityscapebuildingscastlehillskystreetfigure

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing blocking in shapes and understanding light and shadow on geometric forms. Recreating it will help develop skills in simplifying complex scenes and creating a sense of depth through value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hill, and castle, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, hill, buildings, and street.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the buildings and hill.
step 04
Refine the shapes of the castle and add details to the windows and roofs.
step 05
Add the figure and the cats.
step 06
Blend the colors smoothly, avoiding harsh lines.
step 07
Add subtle details to the street and sky.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · viridian green · cadmium red

Mix various shades of yellow ochre with white and a touch of red for the sunlit buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and mix greens with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue for the hill. Burnt umber is used for shadows and darker areas.

techniques

·blocking in
·value studies
·color mixing
·smooth blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the details
→Using too much detail in the shadows
→Not establishing a clear light source
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints: yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, viridian green, cadmium red
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·selection of brushes (flat and round)
·rags