plate no. 9585

Blackfriars Bridge, London

C. R. W. Nevinson, 1927

oilPost-Impressionismcityscaperivercityscapebuildingsbridgeboatspeople

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the mood of a cityscape with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in depicting crowds and reflections.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, buildings, and bridge.
step 02
Establish the overall tonal values with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and the river, paying attention to their relative values.
step 04
Add details to the buildings and bridge, using darker values to create depth.
step 05
Paint the river, capturing the reflections of the buildings and boats.
step 06
Add the figures and vehicles, using small brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Glaze with thin washes to unify the painting and adjust the color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Use white to lighten the values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques