plate no. 9584

Duane Street, New York

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetfigurescityscapestorefrontssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the mood of a cityscape through limited color palettes and loose brushwork. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of color, focusing on the relationships between the buildings, sky, and street.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and signs, using slightly darker values.
step 05
Paint the figures with simple shapes and minimal detail, focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Develop the texture of the street and buildings with visible brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of blue to create grays and browns. Use yellow ochre sparingly for highlights and warmth.

techniques