plate no. 8276

Old Madison Square Garden and Democrats

Alexander Calder, 1924

oilAmerican Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingsnightfiguresflagsstreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing the essence of a scene with simplified forms and using color to convey atmosphere and light. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and perspective with limited detail.

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 horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of dark and light values using thinned paint.
step 03
Establish the main light source and its effect on the buildings.
step 04
Add the details of the buildings, focusing on the illuminated areas.
step 05
Introduce the secondary colors and highlights to create depth.
step 06
Paint the figures and foreground details with simple shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the edges and add final touches to enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Add the small details like flags and decorations.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · ultramarine blue

Mix black with yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the various shades of the buildings. Use small amounts of red and green to create the festive decorations. Mix blue and black for the night sky.

techniques