plate no. 3346

Night in Reykjavík

Asgrimur Jonsson, 1916

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingswaterskyreflectionhouses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color temperature and expressive brushwork to capture the mood and atmosphere of a scene. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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 the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and buildings using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest values, focusing on shadows and reflections.
step 04
Layer in the mid-tones, building up the forms of the buildings and water.
step 05
Add highlights to create a sense of light and form.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and reflections with expressive brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the color temperature to enhance the overall mood.
step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of orange and red by combining cadmium red and yellow ochre. Create cooler tones for the sky and water by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of crimson.

techniques