plate no. 4412

Collins Street

Frederick McCubbin, 1915

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskycarriages

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white.
step 03
Establish the basic color blocks for the buildings using yellows, oranges, and browns.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows and architectural details.
step 05
Paint the street with a mix of browns, yellows, and grays, suggesting the road surface.
step 06
Add figures and carriages with quick, gestural brushstrokes, focusing on color and value rather than precise details.
step 07
Refine the details and highlights, paying attention to the overall light and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive impression.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of yellow and brown with white to create the building colors. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and mix browns and yellows for the street. Add small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques