plate no. 7430

I Saw Three Cities

Kay Sage, 1944

oilSurrealismlandscapelandscapearchitecturegeometric shapesdraperysurrealsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering smooth gradients, understanding light and shadow on complex forms, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the architectural elements and the twisted fabric form.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, ground, and architectural structures.
step 03
Begin to define the light and shadow on the architectural forms, paying attention to the angles and planes.
step 04
Start building up the form of the twisted fabric, using layers of light and dark to create the illusion of folds and depth.
step 05
Refine the details of the fabric, adding highlights and shadows to accentuate the texture.
step 06
Add the small orange details within the fabric.
step 07
Blend the colors in the sky to create a smooth gradient.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · viridian green

secondary · cadmium orange · ivory black

Mix various shades of green and brown by combining raw umber, viridian green, and titanium white. Use ivory black to darken the greens and browns. Use cadmium orange sparingly for the small details.

techniques