plate no. 2070

Hill Street (Day City)

Wayne Thiebaud, 1981

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsroadskyurbanarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for subtle variations, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of light and shadow in an urban environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and roads.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and roads.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on windows and architectural features.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create depth and form.
step 06
Use visible brushstrokes to add texture and energy to the painting.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of light and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create grays by mixing black and white with small amounts of other colors. Achieve subtle color variations by adding small amounts of complementary colors to your primary mixtures.

techniques