plate no. 3608

Houses at night

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsnightfigurecityscapehouses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use expressive brushstrokes and color to create a mood and atmosphere. It also encourages simplification of forms and focusing on essential shapes.

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 and the figure, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: dark sky, building facades, and foreground.
step 03
Add the darker tones to define the shadows and create depth.
step 04
Introduce the warmer colors on the buildings to suggest light and create contrast.
step 05
Refine the shapes and edges of the buildings with thicker, more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the figure, keeping it simple and expressive.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to enhance the mood.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create visual interest.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and a touch of burnt sienna. Achieve warm tones by mixing yellow ochre with white and small amounts of red. Darken colors by adding ultramarine blue.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken color
·Dry brush
·Color mixing
·Simplification of form

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value contrast.
→Getting the proportions of the buildings wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags