Paint a Brisbane cityscape using acrylic paint

How to paint the beautiful city of Brisbane in abstract.

Step 1: Drawing the City.

Draw your city from the image provided on the last page of this document.

Step 2: Adding dimension.

Apply the Modelling Paste to the buildings with the number 17 Palette Knife, use broad flat strokes to keep it smooth. Use the corner of the number 6 Palette Knife to clean up the edge. Allow the Modelling Paste to dry before painting the outline of the buildings using Black paint and an angle brush. This is so the buildings are not lost under the background paint.

Step 3: Painting the Background.

For the Sky, in the Plastic Palette mix 1 part Ultramarine to 1 part Gloss medium and 1 part Purple to 1 part Gloss medium. For the river, mix 3 parts Light Green, 1 part Black, 2 parts White and 4 parts Gloss medium. With the 75 mm Taklon Brush paint the Purple over half the sky. While the Purple is still wet, paint the Ultramarine from the top blending it in to the purple. Paint the river in the with the Green mixture. Allow this to dry before moving to the next step.

Step 4: Painting the Second Coat.

This technique is called a glaze, it will add a glow and suggest depth. Repaint the Ultramarine and Purple on the sky. Then mix 1 part Black to 6 parts Gloss Medium and paint this over the Green of the river.

Step 5: Painting the Buildings.

The buildings have been divided in to 4 shades of Grey and Black, these are to be mixed to the following proportions. Shade 1: 1 part Black to 5 parts White, Shade 2: 1 part Black to 2 parts White, Shade 3: 1 part Black to 1 part White, Shade 4:2 parts Black to 1 part White, Shade 5: 100 % Black. Paint each building’s plane with the corresponding number using the Angle Brush. Paint in the reflection of each building as well, add a little medium to thin it out.

Step 6: Adding Colour.

With the 75mm Taklon Brush, paint over the entire river with Green Glitter Paint. Place a little of each colour from the 12 pack Paint Set on in to your palette. Use a number 2 Flat Taklon to paint in the lights of the city using any mixture of colour, there is no set rules to this, just add colour where you like.

Step 7: Painting Reflections.

Painting in the reflections could not be easier, underneath a building light, simply paint a circle and blend it down the Canvas. Repeat the process for each light.