plate no. 3433

Collins St. 5p.m.

John Brack, 1955

oilExpressionismgenre paintingcityscapefiguresbuildingsstreetcrowdarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding how to create depth using a limited color palette and subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the buildings, street, and the overall placement of the figures.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point to guide the perspective of the buildings and the receding crowd.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background buildings and working your way forward.
step 04
Define the shapes of the figures in the crowd, simplifying them into basic forms.
step 05
Add details to the foreground figures, focusing on the facial features and clothing.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, including the windows, columns, and architectural elements.
step 07
Add the tree and the street lamp.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · burnt sienna

Mix different ratios of raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white to achieve the various shades of brown and beige. Use ivory black sparingly to darken the colors and create shadows. Add a touch of burnt sienna for warmth.

techniques