plate no. 0900
Street in Batavia
Isaac Israels, 1921
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good exercise in capturing light and shadow using a limited palette. Students can practice simplifying forms and creating depth through color temperature and value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the painting with a thin wash of yellow ochre and burnt sienna.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background buildings and working forward.
- step 04
Define the figures with simple shapes and values, paying attention to the light source.
- step 05
Add details to the figures and buildings, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.
- step 08
Sign the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · cadmium yellow light
Mix various shades of ochre and sienna with white to create the warm tones. Use raw umber to darken shadows and add depth. A touch of cadmium yellow light can brighten highlights.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·value study
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Not paying attention to the overall color harmony.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·round brushes sizes 4, 6, and 8
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium alkyd
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Pre-tone the canvas with a thin wash of yellow ochre for a warmer base.
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