plate no. 9236

World's Columbian Exposition

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingswatertreesskyfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the impression of light and detail in a complex scene. It also provides practice in rendering architectural forms with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, water, and sky using diluted washes of color.
step 03
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing points for the perspective.
step 04
Gradually build up layers of color, adding more detail to the architectural elements.
step 05
Use broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the trees and foliage.
step 06
Pay attention to the values and colors of the water, reflecting the sky and surrounding buildings.
step 07
Add small figures to the foreground to create a sense of scale and activity.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the buildings, and mix greens with blues and yellows for the foliage. Add white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques