plate no. 1805
Manhattan
Georgia O'Keeffe, 1932
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand geometric abstraction and color blocking, as well as how to create depth using value changes within a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition of the buildings and flowers.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background.
- step 03
Define the geometric shapes of the buildings with clean, straight lines.
- step 04
Mix and apply the various shades of each color to create depth and dimension.
- step 05
Add details like the windows and subtle color variations within the larger shapes.
- step 06
Paint the flowers, paying attention to their form and color variations.
- step 07
Refine the edges and shapes to achieve a crisp, precise look.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw umber
secondary · black · pink · purple · brown
Mix various shades of pink by combining white and red. Create purple by mixing blue and red. Achieve different values by adding white or black to each color.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·value shading
- ·hard-edge painting
- ·flat color application
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate proportions of the buildings.
- →Uneven color application.
- →Muddying the colors by over-mixing.
- →Losing the crispness of the geometric shapes.
- →Ignoring subtle value changes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·pencil
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Acrylic paint dries faster, making it easier to layer colors. Oil paint allows for more blending.
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