plate no. 5533

Soldier and Girl at Station

Alex Colville, 1953

oilMagic Realismgenre paintingfigurestrain stationplatformtracksbuildingluggage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering figures with subtle tonal variations. It also provides practice in accurately depicting geometric forms and linear perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the perspective of the train tracks and platform.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
step 03
Establish the tonal values of the platform and train, creating a sense of depth.
step 04
Carefully render the figures, paying attention to the subtle shifts in tone and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the train, tracks, and station building.
step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to enhance the mood and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the luggage and other small details.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and realistic look.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · olive green

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to add warmth to the platform and tracks. Olive green can be muted with raw umber for the train.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·linear perspective
·atmospheric perspective
·tonal painting

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective, leading to a distorted composition.
→Overly bright or saturated colors, which can detract from the painting's muted atmosphere.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.
→Ignoring the subtle tonal variations, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.