plate no. 5282

Courtyard of a bakery near Paris (Courtyard of a House near Paris)

oil, canvasRealismcityscapebuildingscourtyardfiguresskyarchitecturedomestic animals

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in rendering form with subtle value changes and capturing the texture of aged buildings. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes by focusing on essential shapes and light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and their placement on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the courtyard.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes of the buildings, adding details such as windows and doors.
step 05
Add the figures and other elements in the courtyard, paying attention to their proportions and placement.
step 06
Develop the texture of the buildings and the ground with broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows, creating depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix raw umber and white for the building walls, adding yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create the darker tones in the shadows and roof.

techniques