plate no. 1711

Metro George V

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapestreetbuildingsfigurescarstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the impression of light and reflections on a wet street. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, arch, and street.
step 02
Establish the overall warm color tone of the sky and background.
step 03
Block in the major shapes of the buildings and trees using simplified values.
step 04
Add the darker shapes of the cars and figures, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 05
Create the reflections on the wet street using horizontal strokes and lighter values.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, trees, and figures, but avoid overworking them.
step 07
Refine the light and shadow areas to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches, such as highlights on the cars and figures, and adjust the overall color balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the buildings and sky. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create the darker tones for the cars and figures. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the reflections too uniform and unrealistic.
→Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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