plate no. 5143

Eglise de Saint Germain des pres

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingfiguresstreettreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections on wet surfaces. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural details and rendering figures in motion.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, the street, and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a muted grey-blue, allowing for subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the building using a mix of grey, beige, and hints of green.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the architectural details, such as windows and cornices.
step 05
Block in the street with a base of grey and brown, then add reflections using lighter, broken strokes.
step 06
Paint the figures with quick, gestural strokes, focusing on their silhouettes and movement.
step 07
Add the trees and foliage using a mix of greens and browns, with loose, textured brushwork.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · grey · beige · brown · white

secondary · green · blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, green and red) with white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the greys and browns.

techniques