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home·artworks·A Street Scene (St Simon's Church)
A Street Scene (St Simon's Church) by L. S. Lowry

plate no. 6795

A Street Scene (St Simon's Church)

L. S. Lowry, 1928

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)cityscapechurchbuildingsfiguresstreetskyindustrial
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding atmospheric perspective using a limited palette. It also encourages observation of human figures in motion and their placement within a cityscape.

technical profile

palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church, buildings, and street layout, paying attention to perspective.

  2. step 02

    Block in the sky with a light gray wash, leaving some areas slightly lighter to suggest clouds.

  3. step 03

    Paint the church and buildings with a dark gray, adding subtle variations in tone to create depth.

  4. step 04

    Add the figures using simple, elongated shapes, varying their sizes to indicate distance.

  5. step 05

    Use a slightly lighter gray to paint the street, blending it into the sky to create atmospheric perspective.

  6. step 06

    Add details such as windows, doors, and the church spire, using a fine brush.

  7. step 07

    Introduce small touches of color to the figures, such as red or brown, to add interest.

  8. step 08

    Review and adjust values to enhance the overall composition and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white. Add small amounts of raw umber to warm the grays. Use cadmium red light sparingly for the figures.

techniques

  • ·atmospheric perspective
  • ·simplified shapes
  • ·limited palette
  • ·dry brushing
  • ·scumbling

common pitfalls

  • →Overcomplicating the shapes of the figures and buildings.
  • →Using too much detail, which detracts from the painting's simplicity.
  • →Failing to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
  • →Making the values too uniform, resulting in a flat image.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas
  • ·ivory black oil paint
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·raw umber oil paint
  • ·round brushes (various sizes)
  • ·palette
  • ·linseed oil

optional

  • ·palette knife
  • ·medium gloss
  • ·easel

A toned canvas (light gray) can be helpful. Use a slow-drying medium if needed to allow for blending.

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