plate no. 1615

Façades Avec Lointain

oil, linenContemporary Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingsskyscrapersfire escapeswindowsurban

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and skyline.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral colors.
step 03
Block in the major color areas for the sky, buildings, and rooftops.
step 04
Begin layering paint to build up texture and detail in the brickwork and architectural elements.
step 05
Add details to the fire escapes and windows, paying attention to their perspective.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the atmospheric perspective to create depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add subtle variations.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of the secondary colors. Use Payne's gray to darken the values and create shadows.

techniques