Abstract skylinesHandmade oil6 models · 15 sizes
Towers reaching toward the sky, an avenue bathed in light, and at their feet, the trembling reflection of the city on the water: Modern Outline transforms the metropolis into a composition of clean geometric shapes. The buildings are reduced to long verticals, carved out in thick strokes of oil paint, and the light springing forth between them becomes the true subject of the painting. Six models make up the series, each with its own atmosphere: blue night and golden spire, turquoise dawn, orange and blue twilight, caramel sepia, amber avenue, or incandescent rust city. The artist paints them by hand as orders come in, meaning that no two cities are ever identical. Fifteen sizes are available, from 60 x 90 cm to the spectacular 150 x 230 cm, and the studio also considers custom dimensions. Due to their verticality, they are particularly well-suited for entryways, hallways, and the tall walls of a loft. For lovers of architecture, travel, or urban moods, it is an elegant way to bring the city into your home, without ever falling into the cliché of a postcard.
Six faces of the city
Model A
A – Blue night
Indigo and midnight blue, central golden spire, reflections on the water.
Model B
B – Turquoise dawn
Blue-green and brown, a breach of white light in the center.
Model C
C – Twilight
Flaming orange and steel blue, yellow burst at the heart.
Model D
D – Sepia
Brown, caramel, and cream, vintage and cozy ambiance.
Model E
E – Amber avenue
Blue and ocher buildings, luminous amber avenue.
Model F
F – Rust city
Rust, orange, and cream, golden light at the back of the street.
The price follows the size, not the model: whether nocturnal blue or rust, a 100 x 160 cm piece costs the same. All compositions follow the same principle: a street lined with towers that opens onto a central light and reflects in the water, each with a different palette.
The process
Building a city with vertical strokes
To paint these skylines, the artist does not draw the buildings window by window: he suggests them. The oil paint is applied in long, thick, and energetic vertical strokes that form the facades. Brighter highlights, applied in relief, represent the lights and metallic reflections. The lower part of the canvas uses the same colors in blurred horizontal strokes to create the illusion of a reflection on water or a wet pavement.
This method places the canvas on the border between figuration and abstraction. From three meters away, you see a city; from thirty centimeters away, you see only the matter, the impasto, and the layering of colors. It is this dual reading that makes these works so vibrant in an interior: they are rediscovered with every pass.
The series' strengths
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Perspective effect
A street that adds depth to the wall.
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Six atmospheres
From nocturnal blue to flaming rust.
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Verticality
Ideal for tall, narrow walls.
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From hallway to loft
Fifteen sizes, up to 150 x 230 cm.
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Generous texture
Thick strokes that capture the light.
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Diptych possible
Two adjacent models dialogue side-by-side.
The city as a light source
In each of the six models, the vanishing point is a luminous opening in the center of the canvas: a sunset, a white dawn, or a brightly lit avenue. This arrangement naturally draws the gaze and gives the impression that the wall opens onto somewhere else. It works particularly well at the end of a hallway or facing an entryway, where you want to create depth.
Our photos show it in halls with gray walls, next to a sculpture on a pedestal, on a concrete wall above a low piece of furniture, or resting on the floor against a dark surface. Cool tones (A, B, and E) go well with metal, glass, and gray; warm tones (C, D, and F) with leather, wood, and brass.
Composing with a skyline
1
Identify the room's tone: cool (gray, black, chrome) or warm (wood, leather, beige).
2
Choose the model that extends it: A, B, or E for a cool atmosphere, C, D, or F for a warm one.
3
Prioritize height: a slim format like 80 x 140, 100 x 160, or 120 x 200 cm reinforces the skyscraper effect.
4
Have it stretched or framed upon receipt, then hang it facing an opening to enjoy the perspective.
Compare the six models
| Model |
Palette |
Tone |
| A |
Indigo, midnight blue, gold |
Cool, nocturnal |
| B |
Turquoise, brown, white |
Cool, morning |
| C |
Orange, steel blue, yellow |
Contrasted |
| D |
Brown, caramel, cream |
Warm, vintage |
| E |
Blue, ocher, amber |
Contrasted, luminous |
| F |
Rust, orange, cream |
Warm, intense |
Your city, built by hand: the canvas takes shape once the order is registered. The number of towers, the placement of the highlights, and the drawing of the reflections will differ slightly from our photos; as for shipping, it will wait for the impasto to dry, which extends the lead time.
Gallery effect: two models with adjacent palettes, for example A and E or D and F, hung side-by-side in the same format, form a very successful urban diptych in a long hallway or above a large sofa.
Technical specifications
| Title |
Modern Outline |
| Technique |
Oil applied with a brush in thick strokes |
| Medium |
Canvas |
| Subject |
Abstract skyline, towers and reflections |
| Models |
A, B, C, D, E, F |
| Presentation in our photos |
Vertical |
| Dimensions (cm) |
60x90, 70x100, 80x120, 80x140, 90x130, 90x150, 100x150, 100x160, 110x170, 120x180, 120x200, 130x200, 140x210, 140x220, 150x230 |
| Custom sizes |
Study on request |
| Supplied |
Painted canvas only |
| Not supplied |
Frame and stretcher bar |
Good to know: you receive an unstretched canvas to be mounted; neither the gold nor black frames in our decor photos are included. Only models A through F are available for order: some gallery photos feature other variations of the series for illustrative purposes. The thick paint strokes are sensitive to friction: handle the canvas by the edges.
For city lovers
A friend returning from abroad, a couple moving into a loft, an architect, or a urban photography enthusiast: Modern Outline is a gift that speaks of travel, movement, and light. For an office or an agency, it also makes for dynamic and inspiring decor.
Explore our canvases in Wall Decor, our ideas for the office, and our lighting to brighten up your artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a real city?
No, no specific city is depicted. Modern Outline offers imaginary skylines, built from the universal idea of the big city: towers aligned on either side of an avenue, a light breaking through in the center, and a reflection on the water in the foreground. Some will see an American metropolis, others a European business district or an Asian city in the rain. This freedom is intentional: it allows everyone to project their own travel memories onto it, and allows the canvas to fit into any interior without dating or localizing it.
Why is the series presented vertically?
In all our photos, from 60 x 90 to 150 x 230 cm, the canvas is hung vertically because the composition relies on the upward reach of the towers toward the sky. A vertical format accentuates this skyscraper effect and the depth of the central avenue. It is a strength for dressing up narrow walls, entryways, stairwells, or wall sections between two windows, which are often difficult to decorate. Above a wide sofa, you can also combine two vertical canvases side-by-side to obtain a balanced horizontal set, in the manner of a diptych.
Which model should I choose for a dark interior?
In a room with dark walls—anthracite gray, midnight blue, or dark wood—bet on a model that provides light. Model C, with its yellow and orange heart, and Model E, with its amber avenue, literally light up the wall. Model F, rust and cream, creates a warm evening atmosphere. Conversely, in a very bright and minimalist interior, models A and B provide depth and character thanks to their intense blues, while model D (sepia) blends elegantly with beige and natural tones.
Does the paint have texture?
Yes. The towers and light highlights are painted in thick strokes, which form slight relief on the surface of the canvas. This is clearly visible in our photos of the canvas alone: the material catches the light, especially in the bright and golden areas that depict illuminated facades. This relief gives the city an almost tactile presence, and its reading varies depending on whether the sun is high or low. Under side lighting, the verticals stand out more; under soft, diffuse light, the whole appears more blended and atmospheric, like a city in the mist.
Are other versions visible in the photos available?
The gallery for the item presents several variations of the series, some in silver, gold, or red and beige tones. Only the six models A, B, C, D, E, and F are, however, available to order on this page, each associated with its own image in the selector. If you particularly like another version, contact us before ordering: since every canvas starts from a blank canvas after the order is placed, we can let you know if creating it in that palette is feasible, and in which format. Feel free to send us the number of the photo in question.
How is the canvas delivered and hung?
It travels alone, without mounts or frame, well-protected. A framing workshop will then stretch it over a wooden structure: you will then be able to hang it as is, with visible edges, for a very contemporary look. You can also surround it with a frame: a thin gold frame enhances the warm models, as seen in some of our photos, while a black frame suits the blue models. For hanging, center the horizon line of the city, where the reflection is located, slightly below eye level: the perspective will be all the more striking.
Can I request a custom size?
This is possible for each of the six models as a special dimension. It is useful for a niche, a sloped wall, or a very high space, such as a double-height ceiling. Write to us beforehand with the model letter and your measurements to the nearest centimeter. The artist will adapt the composition to the requested format, maintaining the balance between the towers, the central light, and the reflection. Just like the catalogue sizes, this version is born after your validation: allow time for it to be painted, and then for the oil to dry.
