plate no. 7859

View Of The Singel, Amsterdam, With The Koepelkerk Beyond

Cornelis Vreedenburgh, 1940

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsdomestreetfiguresvehicles

some experience helpful

This painting helps students practice atmospheric perspective and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides an opportunity to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and masses.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings and the dome.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the street.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the overall tone of the buildings.
step 04
Gradually add details to the buildings, paying attention to the variations in light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the figures and vehicles in the foreground, simplifying their forms.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the birds in the sky as a final touch.
step 08
Step back and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and white, adding small amounts of blue for the dome and yellow ochre for warmer highlights. Use burnt sienna to add warmth to the shadows.

techniques