plate no. 9369

A Street in a Suburb of Paris

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetskyfigurestreescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex architectural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in mixing muted colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the street, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and gray.
step 03
Establish the main value masses of the buildings with light and dark tones.
step 04
Add the base colors for the buildings, fences, and street, focusing on local color.
step 05
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and rooflines.
step 06
Introduce texture with visible brushstrokes, varying the direction and pressure.
step 07
Paint the figures and trees, keeping them simple and suggestive.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and umber. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm tones for the buildings and street. Muted greens can be achieved by mixing sap green with umber or sienna.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·simplifying forms
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Creating colors that are too saturated and bright.
→Ignoring the principles of perspective and creating a flat, unrealistic space.
→Not varying brushstrokes enough to create texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, raw umber, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, sap green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags