plate no. 4348

Roslagsgatan

oilRealismcityscapestreetbuildingsskyfigurelamppostsidewalk

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for muted tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective lines of the street and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the sky, buildings, and ground with diluted washes of color.
step 03
Establish the basic value structure, paying attention to the light source and shadows.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, lamppost, and figure, refining the shapes and values.
step 05
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture in the street and sky.
step 06
Mix subtle variations of color to add depth and realism to the scene.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create dimension and form.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber with white to create the muted grays and blues of the sky and buildings. Add yellow ochre and cadmium red light to the burnt umber to create the warm tones of the street and buildings.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, which can distort the entire composition.
→Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can clash with the muted tones of the scene.
→Ignoring the value structure, which can flatten the painting and make it lack depth.