plate no. 0809

City view

oilRomanticismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfigurestreesstreetcobblestone

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, architectural rendering, and creating atmospheric depth through layering and glazing. It also provides practice in painting figures in a believable setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural shapes and the horizon line, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Block in the basic colors for the sky, buildings, and ground, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the architectural details, paying close attention to the light and shadow patterns on the buildings.
step 04
Add the figures in the street, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 05
Paint the trees, using a variety of greens and browns to create depth and texture.
step 06
Refine the cobblestone street, using small brushstrokes to suggest the individual stones.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of cadmium red. Create atmospheric blues and grays for the sky by mixing ultramarine blue, titanium white, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·linear perspective
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, which will make the buildings look distorted.
→Overworking the details, which will make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
→Using too much detail in the background, which will flatten the image.
→Not paying attention to the light and shadow patterns, which will make the painting look flat.