plate no. 4783

Lisbon

Carlos Botelho, 1962

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsarchitecturetreesskyurban

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and expressive cityscape. It also encourages experimentation with layering and subtle color variations to depict depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the overall composition, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main architectural landmarks.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the general tones of the buildings.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using a smaller brush.
step 05
Layer in subtle color variations to create depth and dimension in the buildings and the sky.
step 06
Paint the bare trees in the foreground, paying attention to their delicate branches.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition and create visual interest.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and values.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix white with small amounts of umber and sienna for the building facades. Use blue and white for the sky, and red and sienna for the rooftops. Vary the proportions to create subtle color shifts.

techniques

·layering
·color mixing
·simplified shapes
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in excessive detail too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of perspective.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
→Ignoring the overall composition and focusing too much on individual elements.