plate no. 2892

Avenue de Neuilly

oil, panelPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapestreettreesbuildingsfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and using broken color to suggest light and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective lines of the street and the placement of the buildings and trees.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of burnt sienna and yellow ochre to the entire canvas.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings, trees, and figures using simplified forms and values.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using a small brush.
step 05
Create the foliage of the trees by applying short, broken strokes of various shades of brown, yellow, and green.
step 06
Add the figures and vehicles, paying attention to their relative size and placement within the scene.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the street and buildings. Add ultramarine blue to burnt sienna to create the darker tones of the buildings and trees. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·simplified forms

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not blending them sufficiently.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (small round, medium flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits