plate no. 6409

Cannon Street Station

Algernon Talmage, 1908

oilImpressionismcityscapetrain stationfiguresarchitecturesmokelightscarriage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the impression of light and movement within a complex scene. It's also a good exercise in simplifying details and focusing on overall tonal relationships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic structure of the train station, focusing on the large shapes and perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall tonal values with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, such as the sky visible through the station windows and the darker areas of the architecture.
step 04
Begin to add details to the figures and carriages, using small brushstrokes and varying the colors slightly to create a sense of depth.
step 05
Pay attention to the light sources and how they affect the colors and values of the scene.
step 06
Add the smoke and steam using soft, blended brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · titanium white · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create a range of grays and blacks for the shadows.

techniques