plate no. 9776

Copley Square

oil, canvasNew Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingnightstreetfigureslights

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and creating the illusion of light in a nighttime scene. It's a good exercise in value control and subtle color mixing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a dark blue or gray underpainting.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, the tower, and the street.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the sky and foreground with a dark blue-black mix.
step 04
Establish the light sources by painting the warm yellows and oranges of the building's windows.
step 05
Begin blending the street, using horizontal brushstrokes to suggest the pavement.
step 06
Add the figures and the trolley, focusing on their silhouettes and light reflections.
step 07
Refine the details of the building and tower, paying attention to their subtle gradations in value.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium orange · ivory black

Achieve the dark blues by mixing ultramarine with burnt umber and a touch of black. Create the warm light of the windows by mixing cadmium yellow and orange with white. Use white to lighten the blues for the street and sky.

techniques

·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·value painting
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Making the colors too bright or saturated.
→Losing the sense of atmosphere by not blending enough.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits