PAINTING (3): MONOCHROMATIC CITYSCAPE
NAME:_________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a cityscape using a monochromatic color scheme in
tempera paint.
VOCABULARY:
Aerial perspective: Aerial, or atmospheric, perspective is achieved by using hue, value,
and intensity to show distance in a painting.
Background: Part of the picture plane that seems to be farthest from the viewer.
Cityscape: Painting or drawing in which a city is the main feature.
Foreground: Part of the picture plane that appears closest to the viewer. The foreground
is usually at the bottom of the picture.
Middle ground: Area in a picture between the foreground and the background.
Monochrome: One color. A monochromatic color scheme uses only one hue and the
values, tints and shades of that hue for a unifying effect.
Shade: A dark value of a hue made by adding black to it. Opposite of tint.
Tint: A light value of a hue made by mixing the hue with white. Opposite of shade.
PROCEDURE:
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Complete several sketches of city buildings.
Simplify these sketches by transforming the buildings into flat, overlapping
shapes. Buildings in the foreground should be larger than buildings in the
background.
Once you have a well balanced composition, trace onto good paper. Be sure to
make all the lines in the drawing as precise as possible.
Choose a single color to paint your cityscape. Mix white and/or black to this color
to create a range of values.
Apply the darkest value to the building or object in the immediate foreground. As
you paint each object farther back in the picture, use a lighter value. The lightest
value should be reserved for the building object farthest back in the composition.
No paper should be showing for this painting to be considered finished.
MATERIALS:
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16”x 20” sketch paper and pencil
16”x 20” oak tag
Tempera paint
Assorted brushes
Water container