plate no. 8811

View of the City of Arnhem

oilBaroquelandscapecityscapewaterboatsskybuildingsfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and distance using value and detail changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the cityscape and water.
step 02
Establish the main cloud formations in the sky with light washes of color.
step 03
Block in the general tones of the water, paying attention to the reflections.
step 04
Add the distant cityscape, focusing on the overall shapes and values rather than details.
step 05
Begin adding details to the boats and figures in the foreground, gradually increasing contrast.
step 06
Refine the cloud formations, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add final details to the buildings, boats, and figures, using small brushes for precision.
step 08
Glaze the entire painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and enhance the atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · payne's gray · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and white, and adjust the warmth with yellow ochre. Use payne's gray to create darker values for shadows and reflections.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·scumbling
·rendering reflections
·grisaille underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the distant cityscape.
→Making the reflections too symmetrical or uniform.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·payne's gray oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·linseed oil
·#4 round brush

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a canvas with a smooth surface to facilitate blending and glazing. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before beginning to paint.

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