plate no. 1042

Haarlem city

oilBaroqueinteriorbuildingscityscapefiguresarchitectureskyplaza

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, architectural rendering, and creating a sense of depth with atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a crowd and capturing subtle light variations on brick and stone.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic perspective and placement of the main buildings.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, focusing on accurate proportions and angles.
step 03
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point(s) for the perspective.
step 04
Start adding details to the architecture, such as windows, arches, and decorative elements.
step 05
Begin layering in the base colors for the sky, buildings, and ground.
step 06
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the figures in the foreground and middle ground, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 08
Add final details, such as birds in the sky and subtle variations in color and texture.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the various brick tones by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Create the sky by blending Prussian blue and titanium white, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix greens for the roof by combining Prussian blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna.

techniques

·linear perspective
·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective can ruin the entire painting, so take extra care in establishing the vanishing points and lines.
→Getting bogged down in too much detail too early can make the painting feel stiff and overworked.
→Failing to create a sense of depth with atmospheric perspective will make the painting look flat.
→Overworking the figures can make them look unnatural and out of place.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, Prussian blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife

optional

·medium gloss
·retouch varnish
·easel

Use a fine-grain canvas to capture the details of the architecture. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., raw umber) to establish a base color and simplify the initial stages of painting.

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