plate no. 5170

Houses

oilRealismcityscapebuildingscityscapehousesvegetationarchitecturewindows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting form through subtle value changes and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of buildings and foliage with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the buildings and vegetation.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Begin to build up the values and details of the buildings, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Add details to the windows and architectural elements.
step 05
Paint the vegetation in the foreground, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of yellow ochre and raw umber with white to create the different tones of the buildings. Use cerulean blue to cool down the shadows and add depth to the sky. Burnt sienna can be used to add warmth to the roof tiles and foliage.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·value study

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat, uninteresting painting.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, leading to a lack of harmony.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value that create atmospheric perspective.