plate no. 7534

View of Beacon Street from Boston Common

George Luks, 1923

oilNew Realismgenre paintingbuildingstreesfiguresdogstreetpark

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, and practice painting figures in a landscape setting with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the buildings, using a thin wash of paint.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the tree trunk and the figures' clothing.
step 04
Add layers of green and yellow to create the foliage, using broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves.
step 05
Refine the shapes of the figures and add details like hats and clothing folds.
step 06
Paint the small dog with quick, gestural strokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the buildings and figures to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Review and adjust colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · burnt orange · gray · green · brown

secondary · yellow · blue · white

Mix the building colors by blending burnt orange with white and a touch of brown or gray. Achieve the greens by mixing blues, yellows, and browns in varying proportions.

techniques