plate no. 3812

View of Meknes

oil, panelPointillismcityscapecityscapebuildingstowersskyfiguresarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for pointillism and how to build up an image using small dots of color. It will also develop skills in depicting light and shadow using color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and towers, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish a light underpainting with a warm yellow tone.
step 03
Begin applying small dots of color, starting with the sky using blues and whites.
step 04
Layer in the colors for the buildings, using yellows, blues, and whites to create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the towers, paying attention to the color variations and patterns.
step 06
Introduce the figures with small dabs of color, suggesting their forms.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adding more dots of color to build up depth and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and whites for the sky, yellows and whites for the sunlit areas, and blues and yellows for the shadows. Use small amounts of burnt sienna and viridian green for details on the towers.

techniques