plate no. 1269

Seville landscape, Spain

Rubén de Luis, 2022

oilImpressionismlandscapecityscapewaterboatsbuildingsskyclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating reflections, and capturing the essence of a scene with loose brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in color mixing and understanding atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of key elements like the buildings and boats.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, adding white for the clouds.
step 03
Establish the water with a mix of blues and greens, considering the reflections of the buildings.
step 04
Paint the distant buildings with light washes of color, focusing on their general shapes.
step 05
Add the details of the main buildings, including the tower, using a mix of yellows, oranges, and browns.
step 06
Paint the boats in the foreground, paying attention to their shapes and reflections.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the buildings, boats, and water.
step 08
Refine the brushstrokes and blend colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red

Mix blues and greens for the water, adding white to lighten the tones. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings, varying the proportions to create different shades. Mix white with primary colors to create tints for the sky and clouds.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the buildings, losing the impressionistic feel.
→Making the reflections too perfect and symmetrical.
→Using too much detail in the distant elements.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x24 inches)
·oil paints (cerulean blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, viridian green, cadmium red)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags