plate no. 2141

Hoddle Street, 10 p.m.

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapestreetbuildingscarriagefiguressky

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice atmospheric perspective and capturing the mood of a city street at night. Students can learn to simplify complex forms and use loose brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and light.

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 perspective of the street.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and sky with diluted washes of color.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the buildings and foreground.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the street surface, paying attention to the reflections and highlights.
step 06
Add the figures and carriage, simplifying their forms.
step 07
Introduce the warm light sources and highlights.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create atmospheric depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of blue and brown to create the cool tones of the buildings and street. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create the warm light sources.

techniques