plate no. 6476

White Walls

Istvan Ilosvai Varga, 1939

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsarchitecturewallsroofcityscapedoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with a limited palette and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex architectural forms.

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 and proportions of the buildings and the pole.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, gradually adding more detail and texture.
step 04
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to define the edges of the buildings and create a sense of depth.
step 05
Pay attention to the subtle variations in color and value within each area.
step 06
Add the darkest darks and lightest lights to create contrast and visual interest.
step 07
Refine the details of the roof, door, and other architectural elements.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix white with raw umber and burnt sienna to create various shades of beige and brown. Use small amounts of black to darken the shadows. Yellow ochre can be used to warm up the lighter tones.

techniques