plate no. 1149

Prague

Dobri Dobrev, 1923

oilRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingsbridgetowersskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle value and color shifts. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landmarks.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted burnt umber or raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the sky and distant buildings.
step 04
Gradually build up layers of color and value, working from the background to the foreground.
step 05
Define the shapes of the buildings and bridge with slightly darker values.
step 06
Add subtle details and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend the colors to achieve a soft, hazy effect.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of blue or red. Create atmospheric haze by adding white to the colors.

techniques