plate no. 7495

Keswick Siding

Jeffrey Smart, 1945

oil, canvasPrecisionismcityscapebuildingrailroadtracksskysmokeindustrial

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for atmospheric effects, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into geometric forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, the hill, the railroad tracks, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, building, and ground using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the texture on the hill with short, visible brushstrokes, layering different shades of brown, ochre, and green.
step 04
Paint the building, paying attention to the geometric forms and the shadows created by the overhanging roof.
step 05
Add the details of the railroad tracks, using perspective to create depth.
step 06
Create the atmospheric effect of the smoke by layering thin washes of brown and grey.
step 07
Add the smaller details like the signal and the distant buildings.
step 08
Refine the values and details, paying attention to the overall tonal harmony.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing browns with grays and whites. Use thin washes of color to create the atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·geometric simplification
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall tonal harmony.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective in the railroad tracks.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Not creating enough depth in the sky and smoke.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, payne's gray, yellow ochre, sap green)
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·linseed oil
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags