Technique & Style

Technique

Theodoros Markellos used oil paints as his primary medium. His technique varied depending on the painting surface — he worked on canvas, fiberboard (hardboard), plywood, cardboard, and paper. Known for his virtuosity with oil paints, Markellos skillfully controlled the density and transparency of his pigments, creating multi-layered, richly textured compositions with vivid, deep colour.

Process

The artist favoured plein air painting, creating a large part of his work outdoors, directly before nature or urban landscapes. This approach allowed him to capture the immediacy of the atmosphere, the shifting light, and the authenticity of his surroundings. Markellos always paid special attention to the quality of his materials, ensuring the longevity and stability of his works over time.

His process involved preliminary sketches followed by quick, energetic brushstrokes aimed at immediate visual impressions. When finishing works in his studio, Markellos refined the details and colour harmony while remaining faithful to his original impression of the scene.

Style

The style of Theodoros Markellos can be described as impressionist realism with expressive and lyrical elements. His painting carries the distinctive imprint of Mediterranean and Greek light, which he rendered with particular sensitivity. His compositions are dynamic, the colours vibrant and saturated, yet without unnecessary drama.

Markellos was known for bypassing details, directing attention instead toward the overall sense of a place and the atmosphere of the moment. He focused on the essential elements of composition — light, colour, and form — choosing to interpret rather than merely depict reality. His approach was personal and subjective, distinguishing him from strictly traditional realism.