plate no. 0229

Wasteland Hotel

John Register, 1990

oilAmerican Realisminteriorinteriordoorwindowlandscapeskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using subtle color variations. It will also provide practice in painting architectural elements and creating a sense of space.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the room, door, and window.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the walls, floor, and the landscape seen through the windows.
step 03
Refine the colors of the walls and floor, paying attention to subtle variations in tone and value.
step 04
Add details to the door and window frames, including the shadows and highlights.
step 05
Paint the landscape seen through the windows, focusing on creating a sense of depth and distance.
step 06
Add the details of the paneling on the walls.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, making sure the perspective is accurate.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · viridian green · titanium white · payne's gray

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber

Mix the green by combining viridian with white and a touch of yellow ochre. Use payne's gray and white for the sky and landscape. Add raw umber to darken the greens and create shadows.

techniques

·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, which will ruin the sense of space.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which will make the painting look unrealistic.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and value, which will make the painting look flat.
→Overworking the details, which will make the painting look stiff.