How to Draw a Cityscape

In keeping with the idea of our simplifying the painting process, I wanted to look at a cityscape.

When we look at a cityscape at first, we see windows, windows and more windows, and street lamps, and people and cars. It's just sort of endless all the detail and seem incredibly complicated.

So, how do we draw a cityscape? How do we paint a cityscape? How do we simplify a cityscape?

In this video I show you how I would approach a drawing from a photograph of Montreal, Canada. From there, how you translate the value masses of the drawing into a painting becomes pretty self-evident.

We focus on the two major principles to think about: Perspective and Lightness & Darkness of a cityscape.

[IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Do you think you could do a cityscape using this idea of the big simple value masses as the foundation?

[corwinjkabuki]

I got it bro you simplified that nicely. I think I get it.

Ty for the clarity

[marieczm]

I love this idea. Thank you so much for pointing the importance of value masses in a composition. Details are overwhelming. Simplify...Will try it today!

[smasica]

Sometimes color in a cityscape or landscape can be a distraction in balancing values in a drawing or painting. Something I found useful and helpful is a viewer made of transparent red mylar/plastic. You can buy sheets of different colors from most art supply houses. I made a cardboard frame about 8" by 10" and taped a piece of the red film to the back of it. I hold it up between my eyes and the view of the scene I'm looking at. Red works very well to kill all the color of the scene, but it retains the true values of the scene. That way, the big value masses and shapes pop right out. Skies can be tricky in a drawing or painting and this helps a great deal to see the value in the sky in relation to the other elements.

[deeptisaxena]

Brilliant simplification, awesome...
Thanks a lot, Ian

[jimodonnell]

Thank you for the cityscape drawing lesson. Could you do a painting of the scene?

[colettemorgan]

That was just incredible, i wish i could do that. I know you have years to perfect that but non the less it's awesome.

[jimodonnell]

Thank you, Ian. Looking forward to it.

[j.evadostie]

Hello from Montreal! It’s no longer winter (thank GOD!) and I just recently stumbled on your channel. Thank you for this tutorial. I am very interested in painting (pastels) cities and so far my drawing is difficult and does not look good. I will definitely try focussing on the light!

[yvonnegeelen]

I would love to see a paintING of this

[christinerothmuller]

wounderful ! masses, light and darkness ! Thank you again Ian

[sandraworrall-hart]

Thanks again Ian! I found it really helpful the way you simplified the scene into a combination of shape and perspective, then I was able to understand the light and dark approach. I have done light and dark in abstracting scenes, but combining with shape and perspective has taken me one step further. From, an artist in the slow lane, ha ha.

[susank]

Great lesson and thanks for painting my city!

[janeiwan]

Ian, this will be extremely helpful for two cityscapes I'm working on. Thanks very much.

[orlane]

Great ! I enjoyed very much your approach. Thanks a lot !

[jamieb]

Thank you for simplfying this for me. I'll know what to do when facing a cityscape.

[BibleStudyPastor]

Fascinating. I can see you chose as the brightest spot to bring the eye, another area than the actual brightest spot in the photo -- artistic license. :-)

[gaylemartin]

Hi Ian. I really enjoy your drawings. How you simplify the shapes really takes the intimidation out of approaching complicated subjects. Thank you for this video. Stay well and safe. Gayle

[judyfranklin]

Thank you Ian for another excellent video, I am trying to do cityscapes so your demonstration was very helpful . I look forward to seeing how you paint it in the future .

[sagepreaumx]

Is the horizon line always at the bottom of the furthest building?