plate no. 9628

Cloudy Day, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Abraham Manievich, 1939

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetcityscapeskyhousestelephone poles

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms 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 buildings and telephone poles, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, ground, and buildings using thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
step 04
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to build up the textures of the buildings and ground.
step 05
Mix subtle variations of color to represent the light and shadow on each surface.
step 06
Add details such as windows and architectural features with small, deliberate strokes.
step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting the values and colors to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white to soften the intensity. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue to create various shades of gray for the buildings and sky.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushwork.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Not simplifying the forms enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·mineral spirits

optional

·painting medium
·varnish
·easel

Use a limited palette of colors to encourage color mixing and create a harmonious painting. Consider using a textured canvas to enhance the expressive brushwork.

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