plate no. 8905

View of Segovia

Ernest Lawson, 1919

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapecityscapebuildingshillsskytreeslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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 cityscape, hills, and foreground, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted paint, indicating light and shadow areas.
step 03
Begin blocking in the larger areas of color, such as the sky, hills, and fields, using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Develop the details of the buildings and trees, using thicker paint and more varied brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 06
Refine the details of the foreground, adding texture and interest with broken color and impasto.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast to create a cohesive and visually appealing composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red light · raw umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Create muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the impressionistic style.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the direction of light and creating inconsistent shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, viridian green, cadmium red light, raw umber)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags