plate no. 4468

Elm Park Gardens, I

John Bratby, 1959

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetcarsskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose, expressive brushwork and simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating depth through value and color temperature changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, street, and vehicles, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darkest and lightest areas with thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding local color to the buildings, street, and vehicles, using a limited palette.
step 04
Develop the sky with loose, horizontal brushstrokes, blending the colors softly.
step 05
Refine the details of the buildings and vehicles, adding windows, doors, and other architectural elements with expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Use thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes to emphasize certain areas and create texture.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, titanium white, and small amounts of other colors. Use cadmium red light to create the red bus and other accents. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create darker shadows.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy or chaotic effect.
→Not simplifying the complex architectural forms into basic shapes.