plate no. 6648

The walls of Lucca (June 6th)

pencil, paperRealismlandscapelandscapetreeswallsmountainsfieldarchitecture

suitable for beginners

This drawing is great for practicing line work and creating depth through varying line weights and density. Students will learn to suggest forms and textures using only pencil.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the horizon line and major shapes.
step 02
Establish the main lines of the walls and the road, paying attention to perspective.
step 03
Add the basic shapes of the trees, varying their sizes and positions.
step 04
Begin adding details to the trees using short, broken lines to suggest foliage.
step 05
Develop the foreground with more detailed rendering of plants and textures.
step 06
Add the mountains in the background with lighter, less defined lines.
step 07
Refine the linework, adding darker lines in areas of shadow and lighter lines in areas of highlight.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.