plate no. 5046

View of Wawel

oilExpressionismlandscapetreesarchitecturelandscapeskyfoliagebuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into expressive brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the building.
step 02
Establish the sky and background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of foliage with broad strokes of green and yellow.
step 04
Add darker values to define the tree trunks and branches.
step 05
Introduce highlights to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the details of the building, using small brushstrokes to suggest its form.
step 07
Add final touches of color and texture to the foliage and foreground.
step 08
Step back and adjust the overall balance of the painting.

color palette

primary · sap green · raw umber · cerulean blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · titanium white

Mix greens by blending blue and yellow, and use raw umber to create muted browns and grays. White is used to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·layering
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating mud by overmixing colors on the palette.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Ignoring the importance of negative space.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (sap green, raw umber, cerulean blue, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, titanium white)
·round brushes (#2, #6)
·flat brush (#8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife