plate no. 0138

Allegro con brio, Bourke St. West

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfigurescarriagessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing movement with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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 the street perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the buildings using a limited palette of earth tones and whites.
step 04
Add the general shapes of the crowds and carriages, focusing on their silhouettes.
step 05
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and signs, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce pops of color to the figures and carriages to create visual interest.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create an atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix browns and grays by combining the primary earth tones with small amounts of blue and red. Use white to lighten values and create subtle color variations.

techniques