plate no. 8430

Regent Street

William Orpen, 1910

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapestreetbuildingsnightcarriagesfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effect of light at night. It also provides practice in rendering complex architectural forms in a simplified manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic shapes of the buildings and street layout.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall tonal values.
step 03
Establish the darkest darks and lightest lights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the figures and carriages, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Add highlights to the street and buildings to create a sense of light and reflection.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
step 08
Add final touches, such as subtle variations in color and texture.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna

Mix raw umber and ivory black for the dark tones, adding yellow ochre and white to create lighter, warmer tones. Use burnt sienna for subtle accents and to warm up the shadows.

techniques