plate no. 1202

Centre of a city

Grace Cossington Smith, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetpeopleskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and practice using color temperature to create depth and form. It also provides an opportunity to explore visible brushstrokes to add texture and interest.

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 buildings and the street layout, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and street using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and lightest highlights on the buildings to create form.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the figures in the street using simplified shapes and dark colors.
step 06
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights on the figures and subtle color variations in the sky.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Mix yellow ochre with ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the buildings, adjusting the proportions to create warm and cool tones. Add touches of cadmium yellow for highlights.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·scumbling
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Not establishing a strong value structure early on.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, raw sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits