plate no. 9468

The City Bus Station

Jeffrey Smart, 1986

oilContemporary Realismcityscapebusesskyfigurescityscapeparking lotclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice precise rendering of geometric shapes, linear perspective, and color mixing to achieve realistic color variations in the buses and pavement. It also provides practice in depicting atmospheric perspective in the sky and distant buses.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective lines of the parking lot and the placement of the buses.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buses with simplified color blocks, paying attention to the subtle value changes.
step 03
Paint the sky with soft, blended colors, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Refine the details of the buses, including the numbers, windows, and reflections.
step 05
Add the figures and other details in the background, keeping them simplified and less detailed than the foreground elements.
step 06
Paint the parking lot with careful attention to the perspective lines and the shadows cast by the buses.
step 07
Add the blue lines of the parking spaces, ensuring they converge correctly in the distance.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism of the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium orange

Mix various shades of yellow and orange for the buses by combining cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, and cadmium orange with small amounts of burnt umber and titanium white for highlights and shadows. Achieve the sky color by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques

·linear perspective
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·geometric rendering
·blending

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective in the parking lot and buses.
→Overly bright or saturated colors that detract from the realism.
→Lack of subtle value changes in the buses, making them appear flat.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective in the sky and distant objects.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits (if using oil paints)

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·ruler
·masking tape

Use high-quality paints to achieve the best color saturation and longevity. A smooth canvas surface will help with blending and creating smooth transitions.

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