plate no. 8301
In the City
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can learn to capture a scene's essence with minimal detail and expressive brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and car, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray, leaving a white area for the 'sun'.
- step 03
Apply the base colors for the buildings (white), roofs (gray), and street (gray).
- step 04
Paint the trees with thin, vertical strokes for the trunks and dabbing motions for the branches.
- step 05
Add the orange color for the car, keeping it simple and bold.
- step 06
Introduce the colors for the doors and window frames.
- step 07
Add the figures with simple shapes and muted tones.
- step 08
Refine details and add texture with visible brushstrokes.
color palette
primary · titanium white · gray · orange · black
secondary · light blue · green · brown
Mix different shades of gray by combining black and white. Create the orange by mixing red and yellow, adjust the tone with white or brown.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplified shapes
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the painting's simplicity.
- →Making the colors too saturated and bright.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point.
- →Ignoring the texture created by the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·titanium white
- ·black
- ·orange
- ·light blue
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to enhance the texture. Acrylics are faster drying, while oils allow for more blending time.
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