plate no. 5826

Marrakech

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapearchitecturefiguresskywalllandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and using warm and cool colors to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering simplified figures within a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, blending the colors softly.
step 04
Apply a base layer of warm browns and oranges to the buildings, varying the tones to suggest light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as the archways and crenellations, using darker browns and oranges.
step 06
Paint the figures with simplified shapes and colors, using white and cream for their robes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the figures to create depth.
step 08
Refine the details and blend the colors to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · ivory black

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the base tones of the buildings. Add white to create lighter tones and blue to create cooler shadows. Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·color blending
·simplified figure painting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Using too much detail in the figures, making them appear out of place.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not varying the tones of the buildings enough, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.