plate no. 5533

Kirkcudbright, Street Corner

Samuel Peploe, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetchimneysshadowsarchitecturetown

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and use color temperature to create depth and form. It's a good exercise in capturing light and shadow with bold brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and street, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the buildings, sky, and ground, using thin washes.
step 03
Define the shadows and highlights on the buildings, paying attention to the direction of the light.
step 04
Add details to the windows, doors, and chimneys, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, blending edges where necessary and adding texture with dry brush techniques.
step 06
Add the details of the street and any foreground elements.
step 07
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and values.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · violet

Mix various shades of white with yellow ochre and a touch of blue to create the light tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the cooler shadows. Add cadmium red to create the red of the doors.

techniques

·blocking in
·color mixing
·dry brush
·scumbling
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original painting.
→Not paying attention to the color temperature of the shadows and highlights.
→Failing to simplify the complex shapes of the buildings.
→Using too much detail in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil or solvent
·rags