plate no. 1922

Entrance to Subway

Mark Rothko, 1938

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingsubwayfiguresarchitectureurban scenefence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding color relationships to create depth and atmosphere. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the major architectural elements and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
step 03
Define the shapes of the figures and architectural details using simplified forms.
step 04
Add details to the fence, focusing on the linear perspective.
step 05
Refine the color palette, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and hue.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Use expressive brushstrokes to add texture and visual interest.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the darker blues and purples. Use yellow ochre and white to create the warm, muted yellows. Add a touch of cadmium red to the yellow ochre for the warmer tones in the figures.

techniques