plate no. 9231

Rooftops, St. Cloud

oilImpressionismcityscaperooftopsbuildingstreeschimneyscityscapefoliage

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes into basic forms.

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 of the buildings, rooftops, and trees, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of a warm, neutral tone to the entire paper.
step 03
Begin painting the sky and background elements, using diluted washes of color to create a sense of distance.
step 04
Work on the rooftops and building structures, gradually building up layers of color to define the forms and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the chimneys and other architectural elements, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and texture.
step 06
Paint the trees and foliage, using a combination of light and dark greens to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · sap green

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., a touch of red in the green). Use white sparingly to lighten colors, and focus on layering transparent washes to create depth.

techniques

·layering washes
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·simplifying shapes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and unnatural look.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color, leading to a lack of depth.
→Not establishing a clear focal point, resulting in a confusing composition.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brush
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·gouache
·watercolor pencils

Use high-quality watercolor paints for better color vibrancy and longevity. Experiment with different brush sizes and techniques to achieve the desired effects.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein