plate no. 0224

Devonshire House

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingsconstructioncityscapeskycranefigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create depth and using broken color to capture the atmosphere of a cityscape. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, crane, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the buildings using a limited palette of browns, ochres, and whites.
step 04
Paint the crane using a mix of red and brown, paying attention to its structure.
step 05
Add the foreground details, focusing on the construction site and figures.
step 06
Layer paint to create depth and texture in the foreground.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · raw sienna

Mix browns and ochres with white for lighter values. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create darker shadows. Add small amounts of red or yellow to warm up the browns.

techniques