plate no. 8965

A Roof Garden

oilRealismcityscaperoofgardenplantsbuildingsterracottaflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for natural light, and depicting textures with visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

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 perspective lines of the buildings, planters, and pots.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and then the buildings.
step 03
Establish the basic values (light and dark) on the planters and pots.
step 04
Add the foliage, focusing on shapes and masses rather than individual leaves.
step 05
Refine the details of the buildings and planters, adding subtle color variations.
step 06
Introduce the flowers, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · sap green · cadmium orange · dioxazine purple

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna with white for the terracotta pots and buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of burnt umber to dull the color. Mix sap green with burnt umber and white for the foliage.

techniques