plate no. 5739

Clyde St, Miller's Point

Julian Ashton, 1901

oilImpressionismgenre paintingstreetbuildingsfigureschildrenurban sceneshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effects of light and shadow on forms. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a believable and naturalistic way.

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 and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Indicate the placement of the figures, focusing on proportions and gestures.
step 03
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 04
Begin layering in the darker values of the buildings and street using a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue.
step 05
Paint the figures using a limited palette of earth tones and muted colors, paying attention to the light and shadow on their forms.
step 06
Add details such as windows, doors, and architectural elements with a fine brush.
step 07
Create the atmospheric perspective by softening the edges of distant objects and using lighter values.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw sienna · titanium white · alizarin crimson

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the darker tones of the buildings and street. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna for the warm highlights. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create subtle variations.

techniques

·wet-on-dry layering
·atmospheric perspective
·limited palette
·figure drawing
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated
→Incorrect proportions of figures
→Not establishing a clear light source

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·palette
·water container
·pencil
·eraser

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure good color absorption. A limited palette will help create a harmonious and unified painting.

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