plate no. 5070

The Clock Tower & City

Naser Ramezani, 2010

oilImpressionismlandscapecityscapebuildingstreestowerskywater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the tower, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky and water with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the main shapes of the buildings and trees using simplified forms.
step 04
Begin layering colors to define the forms of the buildings and trees, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the tower, including the architectural elements and cast shadows.
step 06
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add highlights and details to the foliage and rooftops.
step 08
Finish with any final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Achieve variations in the sky and water by adding white and small amounts of blue or green. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the roof colors.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the buildings and trees.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (cerulean blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, viridian green, ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·#8 filbert brush
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits