plate no. 0605
East Gloucester, End of Trolly Line
Childe Hassam, 1895
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and broken color techniques to create a sense of light and distance. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into impressionistic brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, road, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white.
- step 03
Establish the main color of the road using a mix of ochre, burnt sienna, and white, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 04
Paint the buildings with simplified shapes and colors, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
- step 05
Add the figures with quick, gestural brushstrokes, using a limited palette.
- step 06
Introduce details like windows, chimneys, and foliage with small, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights to enhance the three-dimensional effect.
- step 08
Add final touches and details to the figures and the trolley line.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt sienna · raw umber · cadmium yellow
Mix various shades of yellow ochre and burnt sienna with white to create the warm tones of the road. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and mix in small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·gestural brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the perspective and creating a flat composition.
- →Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall scene.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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