plate no. 9229

Palermo

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsboatspalm treescityscapeskybeach

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create texture and capturing the essence of a scene with expressive brushstrokes rather than precise detail. It's also a great exercise in understanding color temperature and how it affects the overall mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and boats.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the general tones of the buildings and ground.
step 03
Add the darker values to create depth and shadow, paying attention to the contrast between light and dark areas.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up texture and detail in the buildings, trees, and boats.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create the foliage of the palm trees and the texture of the ground.
step 06
Add highlights to the buildings and boats to create a sense of light and form.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix ultramarine blue with burnt sienna and white to create the various shades of the sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings and ground, adding white for highlights. Mix sap green with ultramarine blue and yellow ochre for the palm tree foliage.

techniques