plate no. 7584

315, Madison

oil, linenContemporary Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresvehiclessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and street layout, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted gray or blue-gray.
step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the buildings, gradually adding more detail and variation in tone.
step 04
Add the figures and vehicles in the foreground, keeping them relatively simple and dark.
step 05
Introduce the yellow of the taxis as a focal point.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, using dry brush techniques to create texture and suggest architectural elements.
step 07
Soften edges and blend areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · titanium white · payne's gray · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing white with small amounts of Payne's gray and raw umber. Use yellow ochre sparingly for the taxis and subtle highlights.

techniques

·dry brush
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·glazing
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh and unrealistic look.
→Ignoring the principles of perspective, leading to a distorted composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which will detract from the muted atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, payne's gray, raw umber, yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue)
·round brushes (#2, #6)
·flat brushes (#4, #8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

optional