plate no. 0572

Untitled

M.C. Escher, 1931

oilRealismlandscapebuildingtreeslandscapearchitecturefoliagetower

some experience helpful

Recreating this artwork will help students understand the use of line to create value and form, and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It will also improve their precision and control over linework.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the building and trees.
step 02
Identify the darkest areas of the image and begin filling them in with solid black.
step 03
Use parallel lines to create areas of shadow and mid-tone, varying the spacing between lines to control the value.
step 04
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines, using them to suggest the form and texture of the objects.
step 05
Work from dark to light, gradually adding more detail and refining the linework.
step 06
Use short, broken lines to create texture in areas such as the foliage and grass.
step 07
Add details to the building, such as windows and architectural elements, using precise lines.
step 08
Review the entire image and make any necessary adjustments to the value and linework.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

This artwork uses only black and white. Value is created by varying the density and thickness of the black lines.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·stippling
·line variation
·negative space

common pitfalls

→Creating lines that are too uniform, resulting in a flat and lifeless image.
→Failing to vary the spacing between lines, leading to a lack of value contrast.
→Overworking the image, resulting in a cluttered and confusing composition.
→Not paying attention to the direction of the lines, causing the forms to appear distorted.