plate no. 6794
No Passing
Kay Sage, 1954
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing to create subtle tonal variations, and creating smooth gradients.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and ground plane.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and then the buildings.
- step 03
Refine the shapes of the buildings and add details like the laundry and supports.
- step 04
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create depth and form.
- step 05
Add shadows to define the shapes and create contrast.
- step 06
Paint the details of the foreground elements, paying attention to their shapes and shadows.
- step 07
Blend the edges of the shapes to create a smooth, surreal effect.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · gray · beige · pale green
secondary · white · burnt umber · raw sienna
Achieve the subtle grays and beiges by mixing white with small amounts of burnt umber, raw sienna, and ultramarine blue. The pale green can be created by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of phthalo green.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
- ·linear perspective
- ·smooth blending
- ·hard edge painting
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate perspective can ruin the illusion of depth.
- →Overly harsh color transitions can detract from the surreal atmosphere.
- →Neglecting subtle color variations can make the painting look flat.
- →Getting the proportions of the buildings wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Titanium white oil paint
- ·Burnt umber oil paint
- ·Raw sienna oil paint
- ·Ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·Yellow ochre oil paint
- ·Phthalo green oil paint
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will help with blending.
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