plate no. 1980

Church Procession, Spanish Steps

oilImpressionismgenre paintingbuildingsstepsprocessionskyvegetationfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting textures with broken color and capturing the effects of sunlight on different surfaces. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and varying brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, steps, and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the general tones of the buildings and steps.
step 03
Develop the texture of the stone walls and steps using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, including windows and architectural features.
step 05
Paint the figures in the procession, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 06
Develop the vegetation on the hillside, using a variety of greens and blues to create depth.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · cadmium red

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the stone, adding white for highlights. Mix greens with blue and yellow, and add touches of red for the umbrella and flag.

techniques