plate no. 3827

Greenish Bus in Street of Paris

Grant Wood, 1926

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreettreesbusfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with loose, 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 shapes of the buildings, bus, and trees, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin layering colors, starting with the darker tones and gradually adding lighter highlights.
step 04
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest in the buildings and foliage.
step 05
Pay attention to the subtle color variations within each area, mixing colors on the palette to match the original painting.
step 06
Add details to the bus and figures, using a smaller brush for finer lines.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and blend colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast and create a focal point.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green

secondary · titanium white · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the warm browns of the buildings and street. Use sap green and ultramarine blue for the bus and foliage, adjusting the proportions to create different shades of green. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive brushstrokes.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to match the subtle variations in the original.
→Neglecting the value structure and creating a flat, uninteresting composition.
→Getting bogged down in details and losing sight of the overall impression.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, sap green, titanium white, raw sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·rags