plate no. 2472

Grey Mills

Robert Spencer, 1915

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingsfiguresstreetskytreesbrick

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting textures of brick and stone, and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a natural, unposed setting.

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, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point(s).
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: sky, buildings, ground, and foliage.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the brickwork and the variations in color and texture.
step 05
Paint the figures, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as the road and the vegetation.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adjusting as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture of the objects.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve the muted brick tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create grays for the sky and shadows. Add yellow ochre to the brick mixture for highlights.

techniques