plate no. 1911

Leith streets

oilRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfiguresstreetadvertisement

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the texture of aged buildings using layering and dry brush techniques. It also provides practice in rendering figures within a complex urban environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and street, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the buildings, sky, and street, focusing on local color.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and texture in the buildings, using dry brush techniques.
step 05
Add details to the signage and architectural elements.
step 06
Paint the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their interaction with the environment.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to adjust values. Create the aged building color by layering browns, grays, and touches of red and yellow.

techniques