plate no. 5394

Street Corner

Edward Hopper, 1923

watercolorNew Realismcityscapebuildingsstreethousesskyshadowsarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes, capturing light and shadow, and simplifying complex architectural forms. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in seemingly neutral tones.

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 perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, allowing it to blend softly.
step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes with a diluted mix of brown and purple.
step 04
Paint the roofs with a warm brown, varying the intensity for highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and siding, using a fine brush.
step 06
Define the street and sidewalk with washes of brown and gray, paying attention to perspective.
step 07
Add final details like the telephone pole and small patches of vegetation.
step 08
Refine edges and add subtle color variations to create depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix browns and grays by combining burnt sienna, raw umber, and ultramarine blue. Use cadmium red to warm the browns for the roofs. Dilute colors significantly for washes.

techniques