plate no. 9228

Church of Saint Lou d'Esserant in the Oise

oilRealismcityscapebuildingschurchskylandscapetowersvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and creating atmospheric perspective with color and value. It also encourages simplification of complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and white, allowing for variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the buildings with a light ochre or yellow.
step 04
Add darker tones to the roofs and shadowed areas using burnt umber and a touch of red.
step 05
Use broken brushstrokes to create the texture of the vegetation in the foreground.
step 06
Introduce hints of green and blue into the foreground to suggest depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings, focusing on capturing the overall impression rather than precise accuracy.
step 08
Add final highlights to the buildings and foreground to create a sense of light.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red

Mix various shades of blue for the sky by adding white and a touch of yellow ochre. Create warm grays for the buildings by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Use burnt umber and red for the darker areas of the roofs.

techniques