I started with the simple stuff. The blue is a simple gradient and the window frames are simply lines on a separate layer. The trees took a little time to do. In between the blue and the window frames I made a layer for the reflection. I first tried to do all the black/dark details like windows and paint the stone under it and the lighter details but it really did not work. I tried the opposite, painting the buildings with masses of colour thinking that I would build up the details in layers and that wasn't any better. The third and final attempt was just treating each window frame almost a separate painting, only doing one and sometimes 2 of those panels at a time. This is likely the most tedious way to go about it but after doing a few hours at 200-300% magnification over a couple of days and then pulling back I liked what I saw, even though I had only actually painted a couple of square inches in all that time. I also decided not to blend colours and just let solid colours make the demarcation between light and shadow. Because the reflected elements in the final piece are quite tiny, even a 20x20 print didn't need to be totally detailed to the 8th degree and in fact would made it look muddy. I don't thing working at 300% was really necessary either but I can't help myself and I think that the details do make the piece better.
Below: 200% detail
