plate no. 6659

Fifth Avenue, New York

George Luks, 1920

oil, panelImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfigurescarstrees

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to create atmospheric perspective and capturing light in a city scene. Students can practice simplifying complex shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, street, figures, and vehicles.
step 02
Block in the background sky and distant buildings with diluted grays and purples.
step 03
Establish the main light source and block in the general color tones for the buildings and street, focusing on value.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the buildings, vehicles, and figures.
step 05
Paint the tree with yellow and orange hues, using broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves.
step 06
Add details to the figures and vehicles, keeping them simple and suggestive.
step 07
Create reflections on the wet street using slightly darker and more saturated versions of the colors above.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · gray · yellow ochre · purple · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix grays by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Achieve the golden hues by mixing yellow ochre with cadmium yellow and a touch of red. Use purple to create shadows and atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the importance of value in creating depth.
→Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall scene.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·Oil paints: gray, yellow ochre, purple, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, titanium white
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·Linseed oil or painting medium
·Palette knife
·Rags