plate no. 8109

View of Rome, Piazza Navona

Enrico Nardi

pen, watercolor, paperRealismcityscapecityscapearchitecturebuildingsplazafountainsky

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural structures and perspective lines, paying attention to vanishing points.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the sky, creating a soft, atmospheric background.
step 03
Begin layering washes of color on the buildings, starting with the lightest tones and gradually adding darker values to create depth and shadow.
step 04
Use a fine brush to add details to the architectural elements, such as windows, columns, and decorative features.
step 05
Paint the fountain and figures in the foreground, using a combination of wet-on-wet and dry brush techniques to create texture and detail.
step 06
Add shadows to the plaza to ground the buildings and figures.
step 07
Use a pen to add fine linework to define edges and details, especially in the architectural elements.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust the values and colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · Payne's gray

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create grays for the shadows and pavement. Add a touch of cadmium red light to the building colors for warmth.

techniques