plate no. 6397

Spanish balcony

Filadelfo Simi, 1874

oil, canvasRealismcityscapebalconybuildingarchitecturewallplants

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building and balcony, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the sky, the wall, and the balcony structure, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows on the balcony and the wall, using a mix of burnt umber and black.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the wall, mixing white with small amounts of ochre and umber to create subtle variations.
step 05
Add details to the balcony, such as the railings, roof tiles, and the plants, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create a sense of depth and form.
step 07
Add final touches, such as texture to the wall and subtle color variations in the sky.
step 08
Let it dry and add a varnish layer.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve the off-white wall color by mixing titanium white with small amounts of burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use varying ratios to create subtle tonal shifts. Mix darks with burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques