plate no. 9237

Square with Street Lamp

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapeparkstreet lampfigurestreesbuildingnight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and using visible brushstrokes to build texture. 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 shapes of the composition: the path, the trees, the building, and the figures.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Start layering darker tones in the trees and bushes to define the shadows.
step 04
Add lighter tones to the path and building to create highlights.
step 05
Define the figures and the street lamp with darker and lighter values.
step 06
Add details like the branches of the trees and the light emanating from the lamps.
step 07
Refine the brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast and depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson for the purplish hues of the sky and trees. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the street lamp glow. Mix burnt umber with blue and crimson for dark shadows.

techniques