plate no. 5600

Bank of the Seine in Paris

Bela Czobel, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingscityscaperiverbridgeskystreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of atmosphere and depth. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and forms.

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, bridge, and river, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the sky and then the larger areas of the buildings and river.
step 03
Begin layering colors, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to define the forms and add texture.
step 04
Mix variations of yellows, browns, and greens to create the different hues of the buildings.
step 05
Add darker values to create shadows and define the architectural details.
step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the movement of the water and the texture of the bridge.
step 07
Add small details like windows and figures to bring the scene to life.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting colors, values, and edges until the desired effect is achieved.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · titanium white

Mix various shades of yellow ochre and burnt umber for the buildings. Use Prussian blue and burnt umber to create the darker tones in the shadows and water. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color mixing
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail and not simplifying the forms.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, Prussian blue, cadmium red, sap green, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·rags