plate no. 9388
St John's Church, Manchester
L. S. Lowry, 1938
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using impasto techniques to create texture and depth. It also provides a good exercise in atmospheric perspective and limited color palettes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church, buildings, and street, focusing on proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of white mixed with a touch of grey.
- step 03
Establish the dark mass of the church and buildings using a dark grey or black, leaving some areas lighter to suggest form.
- step 04
Apply thicker paint with visible brushstrokes to create texture on the street and buildings.
- step 05
Add subtle variations in color to the buildings and street to suggest light and shadow.
- step 06
Introduce small figures and details, using a fine brush or the edge of a palette knife.
- step 07
Add the red accents of the street lamps.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix ivory black and titanium white to create various shades of grey. Add raw umber to warm the greys. Use cadmium red light sparingly for accents.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Making the colors too vibrant and not capturing the muted tones.
- →Not paying attention to the perspective of the street and buildings.
- →Using too much medium, which can flatten the texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the impasto effect. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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