plate no. 2003

Old Chelsea, New York

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsrooftopsfiguresskyscrapers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes and creating depth through layering. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings.
step 02
Start with a very diluted wash of the lightest color (e.g., raw sienna) across the entire paper.
step 03
Layer in slightly darker washes to define the shapes of the buildings, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 04
Add details like windows and architectural features with a slightly darker shade.
step 05
Paint the figures on the rooftops, keeping them simple and stylized.
step 06
Use dry brush technique to add texture to the rooftops and buildings.
step 07
Add the darkest values to create contrast and define the shadows.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · payne's gray

Mix raw sienna with varying amounts of burnt umber to create different shades of brown. Add a touch of ivory black or payne's gray to darken the values further.

techniques