plate no. 7684

The Haymarket

John French Sloan, 1907

oil, canvasNew Realismgenre paintingcityscapenightfiguresbuildingstreetstorefront

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in capturing the atmosphere of a nighttime scene and rendering figures with loose, expressive brushstrokes. Students will learn to create depth using value and color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of dark values for the building and street, using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Establish the light sources from the windows and storefront, using warmer yellows and oranges.
step 04
Begin to define the figures with simple shapes and values, paying attention to their gestures and poses.
step 05
Add details to the building, such as the window shapes and the 'Haymarket' sign.
step 06
Refine the figures, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Use broken brushstrokes to suggest texture and movement in the street and clothing.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · titanium white · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white, and add small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber to warm them up. Create the warm light by mixing yellow ochre with cadmium yellow and white.

techniques