plate no. 8768

Chelsea Embankment

Laura Knight, 1935

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebridgeriverbuildingstreesfigures

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex scenes with many small details. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the bridge, river, and main buildings.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall perspective of the scene.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, river, and sky with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin to add details to the buildings and bridge, using a smaller brush.
step 05
Paint the river, focusing on capturing the reflections and movement of the water.
step 06
Add the trees and figures, paying attention to their relative sizes and placement.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix blues and umbers with white to create the hazy atmosphere. Use small amounts of red and yellow to add warmth to the buildings and vehicles. Achieve the water's color by mixing blues, greens, and grays.

techniques