plate no. 5418

Before the arches met

Grace Cossington Smith, 1930

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebridgecraneswatercityscapeskyboats

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, color layering, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes or drawing techniques. It also encourages simplifying complex structures into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the bridge, cranes, and cityscape, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, water, bridge structure, and buildings.
step 03
Add layers of color to the sky using short, directional strokes to create texture.
step 04
Develop the bridge structure with orange and brown tones, paying attention to the geometric shapes.
step 05
Define the details of the cranes and buildings with darker lines and shadows.
step 06
Add reflections in the water using similar colors to the objects above.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, ensuring balance and harmony.

color palette

primary · orange · blue · brown

secondary · grey · purple · yellow

Mix orange with brown and white for the bridge structure. Create the sky by layering blues and purples. Use grey and white to create the buildings.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·color layering
·linear perspective
·simplified forms

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong on the bridge
→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive style
→Using colors that are too saturated
→Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow

materials

surface · drawing paper

required

·colored pencils
·drawing paper
·eraser
·ruler
·pencil

optional

·watercolor pencils
·fixative spray
·kneaded eraser

Use a medium-weight drawing paper that can handle layering of colored pencils. Experiment with different colored pencil brands to find your preferred texture and pigment.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein