plate no. 3794
Cannes Scenery
Umehara Ryuzaburo, 1967
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning simplified shapes and color blocking to create a landscape. Students can practice layering colors and creating depth with atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the composition: sky, mountains, city, water, and trees.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding a touch of yellow near the horizon.
- step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a darker blue, slightly desaturated.
- step 04
Block in the city with simplified shapes of white, blue, and red-brown for the roofs.
- step 05
Paint the water with a medium blue, reflecting the sky.
- step 06
Add the trees in the foreground with dark green and brown, using visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add details to the trees and buildings, keeping the shapes simple.
- step 08
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall harmony.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · rose madder
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve muted tones by adding small amounts of complementary colors. Use white to lighten and soften colors.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·layering
- ·simplified shapes
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the shapes.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which should be more muted.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes size 4 and 8
- ·flat brush size 6
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a limited palette to achieve color harmony. Consider using a toned canvas to start.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
