plate no. 9439

Söder Mälarstrand

oilSymbolismlandscapecityscapenightwaterskybuildingslights

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating mood through color and value. It also provides practice in rendering subtle variations in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the buildings.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of dark blue and brown.
step 03
Begin layering in the sky, blending blues, grays, and a touch of pink for the horizon glow.
step 04
Paint the water, using horizontal brushstrokes and varying shades of blue to create depth.
step 05
Add the buildings, focusing on their shapes and the placement of the lights.
step 06
Develop the foreground, using darker values and broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the reflections in the water and the subtle variations in the sky.
step 08
Add final highlights to the lights and windows to create a sense of luminosity.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Ultramarine Blue · Burnt Umber

secondary · Titanium White · Cadmium Yellow · Alizarin Crimson

Mix blues with burnt umber and white to create the various shades of the night sky and water. Use yellow and white for the lights, and a touch of crimson for the horizon glow.

techniques

·Layering
·Blending
·Scumbling
·Dry brushing
·Atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground, which can flatten the image.
→Making the colors too saturated, which can detract from the mood.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the water and sky.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson)
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brush (#8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags