plate no. 3769

Radiator Building – Night, New York

Georgia O'Keeffe, 1927

oil, canvasPrecisionismcityscapebuildingcityscapenightarchitecturelightssky

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning about value contrast and creating a sense of depth using a limited color palette. Students can practice painting geometric shapes and creating a focal point through light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of dark values using a mix of black and a touch of blue or brown.
step 03
Establish the lightest areas of the building, particularly the top and the windows.
step 04
Carefully paint the individual windows, varying their size and spacing.
step 05
Add subtle variations in the dark areas to create depth and interest.
step 06
Paint the smoke or steam using soft, blended strokes of white and green.
step 07
Refine the details of the building's architectural features.
step 08
Add final touches to the highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast.

color palette

primary · black · white · gray

secondary · blue-gray · yellow-orange · green

Mix black with small amounts of blue or brown to create richer dark tones. Use white to create highlights and lighter shades of gray. Mix yellow and orange to create the warm glow of the windows.

techniques