plate no. 9344
Street in Pendelbury
L. S. Lowry, 1948
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding atmospheric perspective through muted colors. It also encourages observation of human figures in motion and their relative scale.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the street perspective.
- step 02
Indicate the horizon line and the placement of key figures.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the buildings, street, and sky using a limited palette.
- step 04
Add the basic shapes of the figures, focusing on their silhouettes and relative sizes.
- step 05
Refine the shapes of the buildings, adding details like windows and chimneys.
- step 06
Add details to the figures, such as clothing and facial features, keeping them simple and stylized.
- step 07
Use subtle variations in tone to create depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details like lampposts and fences.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · cerulean blue
Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and black to create the various shades of gray for the buildings and street. Use small amounts of red, yellow, and blue to add subtle color variations.
techniques
- ·simplified shapes
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·limited palette
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details of the figures.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Not establishing a clear sense of perspective.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
A smooth canvas is recommended to achieve a similar texture to the original painting. Consider using a toned canvas to start with a mid-value ground.
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