plate no. 9658

Village on the River

Maurice de Vlaminck, 1915

oilCubismcityscapebuildingsriverlandscapevillagetreesbridge

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into geometric shapes and using bold, expressive brushstrokes to convey form and texture. It also encourages exploration of color relationships and creating depth through color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, river, and background mountains, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, river, and land using thinned paint.
step 03
Start defining the shapes of the buildings with darker values, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add the red roofs, varying the intensity of the red to create depth.
step 05
Paint the details of the windows and doors, using simplified geometric shapes.
step 06
Add the trees and branches, using bold, expressive brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the river, using broken brushstrokes and slightly desaturated colors.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · red · yellow ochre · white

secondary · sap green · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve variations in the building colors by mixing yellow ochre with small amounts of red, white, or burnt umber. Darken colors with burnt umber.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·geometric simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to simplify the forms and getting bogged down in realism.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.