plate no. 5928

New York Cityscape

Charles Alston, 1948

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingswaternightarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and mood. It also encourages experimentation with a limited color palette to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the overall composition, focusing on the main structures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of dark and light values using thinned paint.
step 03
Start adding the mid-tones, blending where necessary to create a sense of depth.
step 04
Introduce the blue for the water and sky, using varied brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 05
Add the yellow and orange highlights to represent the lights in the buildings.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, adding windows and architectural features with bold brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall value contrast and color balance to create the desired mood.
step 08
Add final details and highlights, paying attention to the texture and brushwork.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium orange · ivory black

Mix different values of gray by combining raw umber and titanium white. Create a range of blues by mixing ultramarine blue with white and black. Achieve the yellow highlights by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of cadmium orange.

techniques