plate no. 0498

Composition in Shanghai

oil, woodRealismcityscapebuildingswaterskytreesarchitecturecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for subtle variations, and creating reflections in water. It also provides practice in painting architectural forms and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, pool, and foreground, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with blended layers of yellow, blue, and white.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the buildings using a mix of browns and grays.
step 04
Paint the pool with varying shades of blue and green, adding reflections of the buildings.
step 05
Develop the foreground with red and green, creating a sense of depth through color and value changes.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and columns.
step 07
Paint the trees with thin branches and subtle foliage.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Achieve the subtle color variations in the buildings by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use glazes to create depth and luminosity in the sky and water.

techniques