plate no. 4869
Mojave Bus Station
John Register, 1978
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for subtle variations in light, and creating realistic textures with smooth brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing the mood of a specific time and place.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to perspective lines for the building, street, and train.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, building, street, and train cars.
- step 03
Mix the various shades of yellow/beige for the building, focusing on subtle value changes to create form.
- step 04
Add details to the phone booth, including the reflections in the glass and the frame.
- step 05
Paint the train cars in the background, using muted colors and soft edges to suggest distance.
- step 06
Add the stop sign and bus station sign, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final details such as the small plants and the subtle textures on the street.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · payne's gray
Mix different values of yellow ochre with white and a touch of burnt umber to achieve the building's color. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for the clouds. Mix Payne's gray with burnt umber for the train cars.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·smooth blending
- ·rendering reflections
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective can ruin the realism of the painting.
- →Overly harsh brushstrokes can detract from the smooth, realistic style.
- →Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the building can make it look flat.
- →Making the train cars too detailed can bring them forward in the composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retarder medium
Use a smooth canvas to achieve the desired smooth brushstrokes. Acrylics will dry faster, but oils allow for more blending time.
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