plate no. 1993

St. George Place in Crotches

M. H. Maxy, 1935

oilCubismcityscapebuildingscityscapearchitecturestreetsignsroofs

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop their understanding of perspective and how to simplify complex scenes into geometric shapes. It also provides practice in color mixing and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and lines of the buildings, focusing on their angles and relationships to each other.
step 02
Establish a light underpainting with diluted browns and grays to define the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin blocking in the larger areas of color, such as the roofs, walls, and sky, using simplified shapes.
step 04
Mix and apply the local colors of each building, paying attention to subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Add details like windows, doors, and signs, using a smaller brush and more precise strokes.
step 06
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, focusing on the direction of light.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and add any final details to complete the painting.
step 08
Varnish the painting after it is completely dry.

color palette

primary · gray · blue-gray · brown · white

secondary · ochre · pink · light blue

Achieve the various grays by mixing white with small amounts of brown, blue, and ochre. Use white to lighten the blues and browns for highlights.

techniques

·geometric abstraction
·color blocking
·layering
·linear perspective
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early; focus on the overall structure first.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing; keep the colors clean and distinct.
→Ignoring the perspective; pay attention to the converging lines and vanishing points.
→Failing to simplify the scene; break down the complex shapes into basic forms.