plate no. 7987

Port of imaginary city

Konstantin Bogaevsky, 1932

oilSymbolismcityscapecityscapewaterbuildingsskycloudsboats

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex architectural forms with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in creating reflections and depicting a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the cityscape, focusing on the main buildings and water line.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing points to guide the perspective of the buildings and reflections.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and buildings using thin washes.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, paying attention to the subtle shifts in hue and value.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, architectural features, and textures.
step 06
Paint the reflections in the water, mirroring the colors and shapes of the buildings above.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · payne's grey

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding small amounts of umber or sienna to create subtle variations. Use umber and sienna mixed with white for the buildings, and add blue to create cooler tones for shadows.

techniques