plate no. 0422

Barcelona. View of the city by night

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapenightmoonbuildingshillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic forms. It also provides practice in creating a cohesive color scheme.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, buildings, and sky, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: dark blue for the sky, lighter blues for the water and hills, and darker blues/grays for the city.
step 03
Add the moon and clouds, blending the edges softly.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings and hills, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values for highlights.
step 05
Use visible brushstrokes to add texture to the hills and buildings.
step 06
Add the details of the foreground buildings and crosses.
step 07
Refine the colors and values, adjusting as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Ultramarine blue · Titanium white

secondary · Burnt umber · Yellow ochre

Mix blues with white for lighter sky and water tones. Use burnt umber to darken blues and create shadows. Add a touch of yellow ochre to warm up the blues in the foreground.

techniques