plate no. 9675

Glasgow High Street, Looking towards the Cathedral

oilRomanticismcityscapecityscapearchitecturebuildingfiguresskystreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering architectural details with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also introduces the concept of creating depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the tower, cathedral, and building on the right.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the street.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of diluted raw sienna and burnt umber for the underpainting of the buildings and street.
step 04
Add a light blue wash for the sky, leaving some areas lighter to suggest clouds.
step 05
Begin building up the details of the tower and cathedral with darker washes of burnt umber and Payne's gray, focusing on the shadows.
step 06
Use a fine brush to add details like windows and architectural features.
step 07
Paint the figures with small, quick strokes, using a mix of blue and brown.
step 08
Add final details and highlights with a dry brush technique, using lighter shades of the existing colors.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · Payne's gray

secondary · light blue · white

Mix raw sienna and burnt umber for the warm tones of the buildings. Use Payne's gray to create shadows and architectural details. Dilute colors with water to achieve different values.

techniques