plate no. 5302
View Towards Balcic
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using visible brushstrokes to add texture. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.
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, hills, and sky, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the sky and hills.
- step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and create depth in the landscape.
- step 04
Layer in the colors of the buildings, using a mix of warm and cool tones.
- step 05
Paint the trees and foliage with short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and add highlights to create a sense of light.
- step 07
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.
- step 08
Sign your painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the hills. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the roof tiles. Add ultramarine blue to raw umber for the darker greens.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the composition.
- →Not paying attention to the values, which can make the painting look muddy.
- →Making the colors too saturated, which can detract from the naturalistic look.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes #4 and #8
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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