plate no. 3510

A Row of Houses, Wellington Street (Street Painting I)

Lawren Harris, 1910

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapebuildingstreessnowskywinterstreet

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing color mixing to achieve realistic brick tones and capturing the texture of snow. Students can also develop their skills in rendering bare tree branches and architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and horizon line, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, leaving some areas for variation.
step 03
Establish the base color for the buildings using a mix of red, brown, and white.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the buildings to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Paint the snow-covered ground with varying shades of white, blue, and gray.
step 06
Render the tree trunks and branches, using thin lines and varying tones of brown and gray.
step 07
Add details such as windows, doors, and snow on the roofs.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting colors, values, and details as needed.

color palette

primary · red · white · blue · brown

secondary · yellow · green · gray

Achieve the brick color by mixing red, brown, and a touch of yellow or orange. Vary the snow color by mixing white with small amounts of blue, gray, and even a hint of pink or purple.

techniques