plate no. 1336

Street in the sun

oilRealismcityscapestreetwallbuildingfigureskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting textures like stone and foliage, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and color temperature changes in sunlight.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the wall and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, wall, road, and buildings, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the shadows on the wall and road, paying attention to their shapes and values.
step 04
Add details to the wall, using broken brushstrokes to create texture and variation.
step 05
Paint the foliage along the wall, using a variety of greens and yellows.
step 06
Add the figure, keeping it simple and suggestive.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings in the background, softening edges to create distance.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · titanium white

Mix various shades of yellow ochre and raw umber for the wall and road. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre near the horizon. Mix greens with sap green, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna for the foliage.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details on the wall, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of perspective, making the composition feel unbalanced.
→Using colors that are too saturated, creating an unrealistic and jarring effect.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color temperature, resulting in a lack of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, raw umber, cerulean blue, burnt sienna, sap green, titanium white
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush

optional

·Retouch varnish
·Medium gloss

Use a medium-tooth canvas for a good balance of texture and smoothness. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of raw umber) to create a more unified and harmonious effect.

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