Urban Cityscapes in Acrylic & Collage: From Sketch to Finished Painting

Urban-inspired collage and mixed media painting tutorial, built with my go-to fixer-upper secret. Few things are more exciting than starting with zero ideas… until I remember I’ve got a drawer full of golden rejects. The possibilities are endless.

I used to be embarrassed and defeated by those “inferior” paintings. Now I celebrate them. When I pull one out, I think: “Yes! Another fail that’s about to become a collage and mixed media winner.”

👉 Discover more mixed media painting techniques in my Mixed Media Hub

Urban scenes have a rhythm all their own—cars, streets, figures walking and signage transform into patterns that naturally push toward abstraction. In this lesson, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my process, from loose sketches to final acrylic and collage layers.

Watch the Process

Here is a step-by-step video that shows you exactly how this loose, collage landscape is created, Get ready to get inspired!

Step 1 – Start with a Reject, Make a Few Decisions

• Start with an inferior, reject painting. This is a great way to up-cycle art! I started with a discarded watercolor landscape painting.
• Take a moment to look at the image, identify 3 quick ways you can immediately improve the art.
• I started with a reject watercolor and decided to use acrylic layers and add collage border.
• See if there's a point of interest, if not add one. I'll add some figures in the lower left quadrant and pop them with contrast.

If you love modern skylines and textured urban art, you can browse my Urban Cityscape paintings available in my Etsy shop.

Step 2 – Adding Collage Borders

• Tear paper strips from painted scraps, maps, or newsprint. Or, you can buy scrapbook paper with patters that excite you from Hobby Lobby, and such. This is usually what I use.
• Glue them around the edges for a randomized, patterned border. Let them hang over some, you can always go back and trim it.
• This border will frame the painting and integrate with the city textures. Wipe off any excess glue as this may become a resist later on.

Step 3 – First Acrylic Layers

• Block in major color areas using a big flat brush. I added a light blue hue for contract against the burgundy collage border.
• Keep edges loose—don’t outline every building. But be sure to back up from the painting once in a while to make sure the large shapes and elements are obvious.
• Use acrylic glazes for transparency over collage sections. I didn't do this for the sky but will introduce it later on.

Step 4 – Adding Texture & Detail

• Introduce some figures to add a focal point, or human interest. This was a decision I made early on so I'm sticking to the plan.
• To be afraid to use unconventional brushes, try new things! This leads to imperfection which also leads to more expressive artwork.
• Keep most detail in one “focus zone” to guide the eye. The acrylic landscape painting approach over a watercolor works well as I can easily layer over it.

Step 5 – The Finished Piece

• Final adjustments: soften some edges, add pops of color.
• As you can see in the finished collage landscape below, the focal point jumps out at you. The viewer can see the building and then they have enough details, and shapes, to suggest umbrellas and a Cafe.
• Why leaving some collage paper visible adds depth. The patterns keep it interesting, too.
• MORE importantly, it's sooo much fun to paint like this. Hope you try it.

Want to go deeper with collage & mixed media?

👉 Explore the Mixed Media Hub
👉 Browse Collage Painting Ideas
👉 Dive into the Garage Collage Barrage

Supplies I Use All the Time

These are my preferred materials for almost every mixed media project I create. Do I add new ingredients occasionally? You betcha! But these are the go-to materials I rely on most. I know how they behave, how they layer, and how to get the best results from them.

• Acrylic Paints – I only buy heavy body for their thick texture and thin them with water for fluid glazing and washes. See my favorite set →
• Watercolors Paints – Great for transparent layers and unexpected color effects. Exact colors are below.  Shop my watercolor picks →
• Acrylic Inks - Excellent way to add transparent layers to mixed media artwork. Mixes well with everything! See the inks →
• Synthetic Acrylic Brushes - You need a variety and I have listed my go-to's below. I use Princeton brands, very dependable! See the brushes →
• Watercolor Brushes - Get a decent grade but avoid all-natural as synthetic blends have come a long way. Shop my picks →
• Collage Papers – A mix of pattered, and printed paper you see me use is from Hobby Lobby, and it's usually found in the scrapbook section. Browse paper packs →
• Palette Knives – Good to have around for scooping paint and smearing techniques. See what I use →
• Blick Super Value Canvas Packs - Comes in many small and medium sizes up to 20x16". Love em'. Best bulk stretched canvas →
• Mixed Media Paper – Sturdy enough to handle wet and dry techniques. Strathmore is the way to go! Best paper for mixed media →
• Watercolor Paper - Top choice is 140 lb. cold press by Fabriano Artistico. Cost effective and crispy white. Best watercolor paper →
• Caran d'Ache Water-Soluble Crayons – Perfect for adding scribbles and linear interest to mixed media art. Check them out →
• Gator Board - Best firm boards you can find! Buy a large sheet and cut out down. These are used as backing for my paper when I paint. Check it out →
• Mod Podge - Reliable and affordable adhesive for paper, thick and thin. And get the Matte! View the glue →

My hues; Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light (or Medium), Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White

My acrylic brushes; #12 Large round, 2x Medium rounds, 2x Detail, or liner brushes, Large and medium fan brush, a few medium size bristles and old, small house painting brush for glue.