plate no. 4735

Philadelphia Election Day

oilRomanticismgenre paintingbuildingsfiguresflagsstreet scenecrowdcarriage

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting a complex scene with many figures and architectural details, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural structures and the horizon line.
step 02
Roughly block in the large shapes of the crowd, paying attention to relative sizes and positions.
step 03
Establish the basic color washes for the sky, buildings, and ground, focusing on creating a sense of depth.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features.
step 05
Refine the figures in the crowd, adding details like clothing and facial features.
step 06
Paint the flags, paying attention to their folds and movement.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Add final details, such as small figures, dogs, and street debris.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Create variations in the sky by gradually blending blues and whites.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing
·architectural rendering
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early before establishing the overall composition.
→Making the figures too uniform and lacking individuality.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the initial washes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·palette knife