plate no. 7920

Street in Cairo

oilRomanticismgenre paintingstreetfiguresarchitecturebuildingsmarketcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing the nuances of light and shadow in an urban environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the street and the placement of buildings and figures.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and ground with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin adding details to the architecture, paying attention to the textures of the walls and the patterns of light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 06
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adjusting the atmospheric perspective as needed.
step 07
Add final details, such as the hanging lanterns and the textures of the fabrics.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · viridian

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue to create cool shadows and atmospheric perspective. Mix small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the browns.

techniques