plate no. 8460

After the Rain Queen Street Wisdom

Paul Mathiopoulos, 1900

oilSymbolismcityscapestreetrainfiguretreesbuildingcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the reflections of light on wet surfaces. It will also teach how to create a sense of depth and mood using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main elements like the figure, trees, and building.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the street and sidewalk.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darkest tones and gradually adding lighter values.
step 04
Focus on capturing the overall mood and atmosphere of the scene.
step 05
Create the reflections on the wet street using horizontal brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
step 06
Add details to the figure, trees, and building, paying attention to the play of light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend the colors to create a soft, hazy effect.
step 08
Add final highlights to emphasize the reflections and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Mix burnt umber and ivory black for the dark areas. Add raw sienna and yellow ochre to create the warm tones of the street and sky. Use titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights. A touch of ultramarine blue can be added to the darker areas to create depth.

techniques