plate no. 6385

Adam's House

Edward Hopper, 1928

watercolorNew Realismcityscapehousetreesskystreetfencetelephone pole

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering, creating depth through atmospheric perspective, and simplifying complex shapes into basic forms. It also provides practice in capturing the effects of light and shadow on architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the house, trees, telephone pole, and fence.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and basic perspective of the street.
step 03
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and gray for the sky, allowing it to dry.
step 04
Paint the distant buildings with muted blues and grays to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Begin layering washes on the house, starting with the lightest values and gradually building up the darker shadows.
step 06
Paint the trees with a mix of greens, yellows, and browns, using broken brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 07
Add details to the fence and telephone pole, paying attention to the cast shadows.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as the wires and the fire hydrant.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the various shades of white on the house. Use blue and umber to create grays for the sky and shadows. Mix yellow ochre with blue and umber for the greens of the trees.

techniques