plate no. 6527

Edinburgh

George Henry, 1924

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingscastleskytreespath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating depth using color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, castle, and foreground using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Apply the base colors for the castle and buildings, focusing on the dominant blue and beige tones.
step 04
Paint the green areas of the foreground and mid-ground, varying the shades slightly.
step 05
Add the path, using a muted beige color.
step 06
Define the shadows and highlights on the buildings and castle to create depth.
step 07
Add details to the trees and foliage, using darker greens and blues.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust colors as needed to match the original painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · beige · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

Mix different shades of blue by adding white or a touch of green. Create beige by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of burnt umber. Achieve variations in green by adding yellow or blue.

techniques