plate no. 4247
Descending from the Bus
William James Glackens, 1910
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing broken color techniques and capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Recreating this will help students develop skills in layering paint and simplifying complex scenes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the main shapes and composition.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Start with the background, painting the sky and buildings with loose brushstrokes.
- step 04
Move to the middle ground, adding details to the arch and figures.
- step 05
Paint the bus, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow.
- step 06
Add details and highlights to create depth and interest.
- step 07
Refine the edges and shapes, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
- step 08
Step back and make final adjustments to the color and value relationships.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · cadmium red · raw umber
Mix various shades of green for the bus by combining ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing burnt sienna with yellow ochre and a touch of cadmium red.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
- →Not paying attention to the color temperature and value relationships.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·#2 filbert brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and texture.
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