plate no. 5345
Cityview
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, architectural rendering, and creating atmospheric depth through layering and color mixing. It also offers practice in painting figures in a realistic, yet simplified manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main buildings and street layout, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft cloud formations.
- step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the buildings using a limited palette of browns, grays, and ochres.
- step 04
Add details to the architecture, such as windows, arches, and ornamentation.
- step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, focusing on their general shapes and colors rather than precise details.
- step 06
Develop the ground plane with varying tones of brown and gray to create depth.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the buildings and figures.
- step 08
Refine details and blend edges to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · cadmium red light
Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Create various shades of brown by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and white. Use small amounts of cadmium red to add warmth to the buildings and figures.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the perspective wrong, leading to distorted buildings.
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, making the painting appear garish.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear flat.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a canvas with a smooth texture for easier blending. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., light gray or ochre) to establish a base tone.
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