plate no. 7948
Driveway. Newark
George Ault, 1931
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning about perspective and creating clean, geometric shapes with paint. It also offers practice in color mixing to achieve the subtle variations in the sky and building colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, driveway, and horizon line, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually adding white for the clouds.
- step 03
Paint the buildings with their respective colors, mixing the hues carefully.
- step 04
Add the details of the windows, ensuring they are aligned and consistent.
- step 05
Paint the grass and trees in the background, simplifying their forms.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the buildings to create a crisp, clean look.
- step 07
Add shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Review and adjust colors and values for overall harmony.
color palette
primary · light blue · red-brown · tan · white
secondary · green · black
Mix the building colors by combining earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors to achieve the desired hues. Use white to lighten the sky and create clouds.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·hard edge painting
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate perspective
- →muddy color mixing
- →uneven paint application
- →overly detailed background
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·ruler
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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