plate no. 0416

District 6 Street scene with figures, buildings & donkey cart

Gregoire Boonzaier, 1971

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskycartscityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing the essence of a scene with minimal detail. It also encourages observation of light and shadow in an urban environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes of the buildings and figures, focusing on composition.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Using a larger brush, apply a thin wash of diluted raw sienna or yellow ochre to the buildings and street.
step 04
Add darker washes of burnt umber and indigo to define shadows and architectural details.
step 05
Use a fine brush to add details like windows, figures, and the donkey cart with thin lines of black or dark brown.
step 06
Introduce small touches of red and green for figures and details to add visual interest.
step 07
Allow each layer to dry partially before adding the next to prevent excessive bleeding.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · indigo

Mix raw sienna and ultramarine blue for muted grays and greens. Use burnt umber to darken and add depth to shadows. Dilute colors significantly for transparent washes.

techniques