Cityscapes – London

Capture the atmosphere of London through a fresh, contemporary lens in this themed acrylic painting course. Working from an iconic London cityscape, you will explore how to reinterpret a familiar scene using a cooler, moodier colour palette to create a striking and expressive piece of art.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to simplify complex urban structures, use perspective to create depth, and build layers of paint to suggest light, reflections, and texture. The focus will be on using cool tones—blues, greys, purples, and muted neutrals—to give the city a calming, atmospheric, or dramatic feel.

You’ll be guided through step-by-step demonstrations and supported with individual feedback as you develop your own interpretation of the London skyline. Whether you’re drawn to the architecture, the river, or the atmospheric skies, this course will help you understand how colour choices can completely transform the mood of a cityscape.

This course is suitable for learners with some experience in acrylic painting who want to build confidence, experiment with limited colour palettes, and create a finished London scene.

Week 1 – Introduction & Composition Planning

You’ll be introduced to the iconic London scene we’ll be painting and explore how to break down a complex cityscape into simple shapes. We’ll sketch out the main composition, discuss viewpoint, depth, and balance, and begin preparing your canvas with an underpainting.

Week 2 – Drawing the Structure & Establishing Perspective

This session focuses on mapping out London’s key architectural forms using one- or two-point perspective. You’ll learn how to simplify buildings, bridges, and skyline details, ensuring your composition has clarity and strong structure before painting begins.

Week 3 – Building the First Layers in Cool Colours

We begin painting by blocking in large areas with a cool-toned colour palette. You’ll learn how to mix harmonious blues, greys, and muted tones while establishing mood and atmosphere. We’ll focus on big shapes, loose brushwork, and strong tonal contrasts.

Week 4 – Developing Texture, Detail & Depth

You’ll start to build depth through layering techniques such as glazing, dry brushing, and controlled mark-making. This week explores how to suggest architectural texture and reflections—without overworking the painting.

Week 5 – Adding Light, Reflections & Finer Details

This session focuses on enhancing atmosphere. You’ll refine key elements, introduce subtle highlights, soften or sharpen edges, and strengthen reflections or sky details. The goal is to bring clarity and cohesion while maintaining the expressive, cool-toned mood.

Week 6 – Final Refinements & Group Review

You’ll complete your London cityscape, adding final touches to colour harmony, perspective, and texture. We’ll end with a supportive group review, where you’ll share your work, discuss your creative decisions, and reflect on your progress throughout the course.