question for experienced Street/Urbanscape artist

[artsyroxy]

Hello, this is my first post.....so I have a question....
I'm attempting my first streetscape and am a bit intimated by the amount of detail in street scenes. I learn well by viewing so does anyone have suggestions of artists that specialize in urban or streetscapes. I would also appreciate any tips you might have. Thank you

[vidara]

One of my favorites is definitley Frans Koppelaar, you should check his web gallery

i dont know much others by name, so im hoping to get some good artist recommendations in this thread..

[css]

check Jeremy Mann (http://www.redrabbit7.com/compositions1/compositions1.html) out

[JDWooldridge]

If you're looking for someone who can really simplify without sacrificing intensity, check out William Wray: http://williamwray.com/

[rugman]

Check out Desmond O'Hagan as well. There is a work in progress demo of a street scene in the current pastel journal magazine (December 2010 issue), done by O'Hagan. Its a pastel, but much of the techniques would work in oils as well.

http://www.pasteljournal.com/

http://www.desmondohagan.com/

[virgil carter]

Artsyroxy, I am hardly an expert painter, but cityscapes and townscapes are favorite subjects of mine. You don't say what medium you paint in, but here are three wonderful watercolor painters that do amazing, personal urban subjects: Joseph Zbukvic (atmospheric tonalist painter), Alvaro Castegnet (painterly tonalist, with touches of color for emotion), and John Salminen (whose composition and execution is so skilled it makes my ears bleed!).

As you say, these subjects are filled with shapes, activities, textures and details--making them challenging to capture the spirit of the place, much less what you may wish to convey about it. That's why city and townscapes are so appealing to me: it's the challenge, I think. And, of course, the energy that's always a part of urban locations.

As for tips, here's a few that I have come to try and use:

--Figure out what it is that is appealing enough to make you want to paint the subject;
--Define and commit to what you want your painting to say or convey to viewers;
--Be ruthless in establishing a strong, well based design and composition. Without this, nothing else is going to make it a good painting. Edit out everything unnecessary for your painterly intent. Add/move/change anything and everything that will reinforce your painting concept.
--Don't try to capture all the forms, textures and details. You can't!
--Good perspective helps. At the very least, try to keep the verticals vertical, unless you are striving for some special effect.
--Have fun!

Best wishes! Post some of your work.

Virgil

[zeegallerie]

william wray is also my favorite

[artsyroxy]

Such a wonderful response. Thanks to all for you thoughts and references. I found the websites of all the artists mentioned above and feel inspired and eager to get started. Wish me luck :)

[vidara]

check Jeremy Mann (http://www.redrabbit7.com/compositions1/compositions1.html) out

wow, this is amazing, right up my street, thank you for recommending this.

i've spent hours on that website

[sundiver]

Mike Svob (http://www.mikesvob.com/) does a lot of streetscapes and has a book.

[artsyroxy]

Wendy... thank you! Mike Svob is fantastic. Love the palette, clarity and style of his work. Thank you for the recommendation.

[oddman99]

John Little is a painter extraordinaire of the street scene in and around Montreal. You can view some of his works for inspiration at this web site http://www.klinkhoff.com/canadian-artist/John-Little

[artsyroxy]

A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about painting an urbanscape. The painting is now completed and hopefully attached if I did that part correctly.
Thank you to everyone that responded to the question. I had a lot of fun painting this.... I originally wanted to do less detail but my nature interfered with that plan.