plate no. 8735

Station Forestiere

Paul Delvaux, 1960

oil, canvasSurrealismcityscapetrainstreesbuildingsfiguresstationsmoke

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in rendering complex shapes in perspective and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to mix dark, muted colors and capture the subtle glow of artificial light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the train station, trains, trees, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas with a mix of burnt umber and black.
step 03
Paint the sky with a gradient of yellow and orange, blending it softly into the darker areas.
step 04
Add the trees, focusing on the shapes of the trunks and branches, using a dry brush technique for texture.
step 05
Paint the train station and trains, paying attention to the details of the architecture and machinery.
step 06
Add the figures in the foreground, using simple shapes and colors.
step 07
Paint the lamplight glow with a soft yellow, blending it into the surrounding areas.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the dark, muted tones by mixing burnt umber and black. Use yellow ochre and white for the lamplight glow. Add small amounts of red and blue to create variations in the dark tones.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·dry brush
·glazing
·linear perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, especially on the train tracks and buildings.
→Making the colors too bright or saturated.
→Losing the sense of depth by not using enough atmospheric perspective.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall mood.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·burnt umber oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brush (size 8)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·easel

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of burnt umber) to help establish the dark tones from the beginning.

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