Itty, Bitty Buildings

My first step today is to add waves crashing against the rocks at the base of the bluff, far below the domed Churches. A bit of Ultramarine Blue is added to the White to make it recede into the distance. Pure Whites will be reserved for the brightest highlights on the Churches. Please remember, you may click on any image to see an enlargement.

Let’s get to work on those Itty Bitty Buildings tumbling down the hillside. Here’s my reference picture.

The jumble of multihued structures are first blocked in with several different colors. I use combinations, in different proportions, of White + MUD, White + Ultramarine Blue, White + MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue and White + MUD + Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson. The different mixes are applied randomly, I’m not worried about duplicating my reference picture exactly. I use the shapes of the various blocks of colors to begin delineating the individual buildings.

As the buildings begin to emerge from the mish-mash of color, the details of windows, palms and bougainvilleas are added.

The distinctive Church Domes are painted with several shades of Cobalt Blue + a touch of Pthalo Blue + White.

If you will look closely at a white building in the bright sunlight, you’ll find that it’s not all just pure white. There are lots of subtle grays in the lighter parts. Two of the sides that we see, of the base of the Dome, are illuminated by the sun. The panel on the left is directly hit by sunshine, therefore it’s brighter. The flat part of the building facing us is lit, just not as brightly. So I make several mixes of White + MUD, White + MUD + a tiny bit of Cadmium Orange, White + Ultramarine Blue and White + Ultramarine Blue + MUD. Darker shades of the same mixes are used for the shadows.

The windows, as well as the crisscross panels in them, are painted with the same mixes used for the Dome. My wrist is braced against a Mahl Stick hooked over the top of my easel, steadying my hand as I make the fine details. What is a Mahl Stick? CLICK HERE to find out!

The closest Church is painted next.

Churches DONE! We’re ready to do some planting.

I’ve been patiently waiting to bring in a POP of color and now’s the time! The Bougainvillea hugging the wall that lines the stairs descending the hillside is painted with mixtures of Permanent Rose + Magenta + White.

The intense hue of the Bougainvillea is already giving depth to the painting. And we’ve only just begun! Come back soon and see the transformation as more bright flowers are planted. With Big Hugs,

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