plate no. 9523

Sun on Prospect Street (Gloucester, Massachusetts)

Edward Hopper, 1934

oil, canvasSocial Realismcityscapehousesstreetcarstreesarchitecturesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for subtle variations, and capturing the effects of light and shadow on architectural forms. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere in a cityscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the houses and street.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing point(s).
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, houses, and street with thin washes.
step 04
Add darker values to define shadows and architectural details.
step 05
Mix and apply the colors for the trees and foliage, using varied greens and blues.
step 06
Paint the cars, paying attention to their shapes and reflections.
step 07
Refine the details of the houses, including windows, doors, and rooflines.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and light.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of yellow ochre and raw umber with white for the houses. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create grays for shadows and architectural details. Mix greens with yellow and blue, adding touches of burnt sienna for earthiness.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·layering
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·perspective drawing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective can distort the shapes of the houses.
→Overworking the details can make the painting look stiff.
→Using too much water can make the colors appear washed out.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows can flatten the image.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·masking tape
·sketching pencil

optional

·palette knife
·ruler
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects. Consider using masking tape to create clean edges.

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