plate no. 7887

Boulevard a Paris

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfigureshorse carriagesrain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, capturing reflections, and using loose brushwork to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and movement within a busy urban scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and perspective of the buildings and street.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall values and atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the buildings and figures, gradually lightening as you move towards the horizon.
step 04
Add the reflections on the wet street, using horizontal strokes and varying the colors to mimic the light sources.
step 05
Introduce the figures and horse carriages, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Define the details of the buildings and street lamps, using small brushstrokes and highlights.
step 07
Add the bare tree branches and foliage, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric scene.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of the secondary colors. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the warm light of the street lamps and shop windows. Mix raw umber and ivory black for the darker tones of the buildings and figures.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of atmospheric perspective.
→Making the reflections too uniform and unrealistic.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ivory black, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife
·palette
·rags or paper towels