plate no. 6124
Derelict Building
L. S. Lowry, 1941
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create atmosphere. Students can learn to suggest details with minimal brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, chimneys, and other structures, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the scene.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a light, muted color, blending it slightly to create a cloudy effect.
- step 04
Paint the main building with a dark gray, adding subtle variations in tone to suggest form.
- step 05
Add the distant buildings and chimneys, simplifying their details.
- step 06
Paint the ground with a light, neutral color, adding dark horizontal strokes to represent debris and shadows.
- step 07
Add the figures as simple stick-like shapes, varying their sizes and positions.
- step 08
Refine details such as windows, doors, and textures with small, deliberate brushstrokes.
color palette
primary · gray · white · black
secondary · ochre · red · blue
Mix grays by combining black and white, adding small amounts of ochre or blue to adjust the temperature. Use a limited palette to maintain a cohesive and muted atmosphere.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplification
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating details, losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh or unrealistic look.
- →Ignoring the perspective, causing the scene to appear flat or distorted.
- →Using colors that are too vibrant, disrupting the muted atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (gray, white, black, ochre)
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
A slightly textured canvas can enhance the dry brush effect. Use a limited palette to maintain the painting's muted tones.
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