plate no. 5233
The Tenements
O. Louis Guglielmi, 1939
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, color mixing to achieve muted tones, and creating smooth gradations of color to suggest form and light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas for each building, using diluted paint.
- step 03
Refine the colors of each building, adding subtle variations and shadows.
- step 04
Paint the sky with soft, blended colors, creating a sense of depth.
- step 05
Add details such as windows, fire escapes, and the floral garland.
- step 06
Paint the geometric shapes on the street, paying attention to their shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details and edges of all elements, ensuring accurate perspective.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · blue · white
secondary · green · brown · gray
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., red and green, blue and orange) with white. Use a limited palette and mix colors thoroughly to create harmonious variations.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·glazing
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·soft blending
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate perspective, leading to distorted buildings.
- →Overly bright or saturated colors that clash with the muted atmosphere.
- →Uneven blending, resulting in a choppy or unfinished look.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations within each building.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints: red, yellow, blue, white, burnt umber
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
- ·Color wheel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grain canvas will provide a good surface for blending.
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