plate no. 6926

Port of Elsinore

oilRealismcityscapecityscapewaterbuildingsskycloudsrocks

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering transparent washes and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the buildings and rocks.
step 02
Apply a very diluted wash of light blue for the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Add a pale wash of blue to the water, varying the intensity slightly to suggest depth.
step 04
Mix a light brown/ochre and apply a thin wash to the buildings, allowing the underpainting to show through.
step 05
Add touches of red and green to the buildings and foliage, keeping the colors muted.
step 06
Paint the rocks in the foreground with a darker brown, adding reflections in the water.
step 07
Strengthen the shadows in the buildings and rocks to create depth.
step 08
Add final details such as masts and windows with a fine brush.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix blues with a touch of brown for the sky and water. Create muted greens by mixing blue and yellow with a touch of red. Use highly diluted washes to achieve transparency.

techniques