plate no. 1681

Building Well With Church Amsterdam

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapeconstructiondomeskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for atmospheric effects, and creating texture with brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing the feeling of a place and time.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, dome, and construction site, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blues and grays.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the buildings, using a limited palette of browns, reds, and creams.
step 04
Paint the dome with a mix of greens, blues, and whites, capturing the subtle variations in color.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features.
step 06
Focus on the construction site, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 07
Add small figures to give a sense of scale and activity.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix browns and grays by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the colors and create atmospheric perspective. The dome color is achieved by mixing blue and yellow ochre.

techniques