plate no. 7320

House Workers in the Bronx

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsfiguresskytreeslandscapecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using visible brushstrokes to add texture and energy to the scene. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and then the background buildings.
step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and create depth in the trees and buildings.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and doors, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their posture and clothing.
step 06
Add texture to the ground with short, broken brushstrokes, using a variety of warm and cool colors.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of atmosphere and light.
step 08
Add final highlights to the buildings and figures to create a focal point.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Add small amounts of burnt sienna or yellow ochre to warm up the colors, and sap green to cool them down.

techniques