plate no. 0420
View from Brooklyn
George Ault, 1927
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning about geometric shapes and simplifying complex scenes into basic forms. Students can practice color mixing to achieve muted tones and create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, tower, and trees.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, buildings, snow-covered ground.
- step 03
Refine the shapes of the buildings and add details like the arches.
- step 04
Paint the bare trees, paying attention to the branching structure.
- step 05
Add the snow highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 06
Refine the details of the tower and the snowdrift.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber with white for the snow and sky. Add a touch of red to raw umber for the building color. Use Payne's gray for the dark areas and the city skyline.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details
- →Incorrect perspective
- →Using colors that are too bright
- →Not establishing a clear value structure
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a limited palette to achieve the muted tones of the original painting. Consider using a medium to thin the paint for smoother application.
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