plate no. 5304

1220 Quincy Street

Lois Mailou Jones, 1953

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingscarssnowtreesnightstreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and using a limited palette to create a cohesive mood. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle variations in light and shadow on snow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, cars, and trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the shapes of the buildings and cars, adding details such as windows and door frames.
step 04
Paint the snow-covered ground, using a variety of cool and warm grays to create depth and texture.
step 05
Add the bare tree branches, using a fine brush to capture their delicate forms.
step 06
Introduce the warm light emanating from the windows, using yellows and oranges to create contrast.
step 07
Refine the details and add final touches, such as highlights on the snow and reflections in the windows.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and values.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Achieve the cool grays for the snow by mixing ultramarine blue and burnt umber with titanium white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create the warm light from the windows.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Using too much pure white for the snow, resulting in a flat and unrealistic appearance.
→Neglecting the subtle color variations in the snow and shadows.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, leading to a muddy and indistinct painting.