plate no. 8918

View of Atrani

M.C. Escher, 1931

oilRealismcityscapebuildingsarchitecturecityscapeseastairstower

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in rendering architectural forms with colored pencils and understanding perspective. Students can develop their skills in layering colors to create depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, tower, and landscape, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points to guide the perspective.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the buildings, starting with light grays and adding darker tones for shadows.
step 04
Use short, directional strokes to create texture on the walls and roofs.
step 05
Add color to the landscape, using greens, yellows, and browns to represent vegetation.
step 06
Define the details of the tower and other architectural elements with darker lines.
step 07
Layer colors in the sea and sky to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to complete the painting.