plate no. 0358

Grands Boulevards

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapesnowbuildingsstreetfigurestrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a busy street scene. It also provides practice in capturing the effects of light and shadow on snow-covered surfaces.

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 buildings, the street, and the main figures.
step 02
Establish the sky and background with a thin wash of gray and muted orange.
step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the buildings, using a mix of browns, grays, and whites.
step 04
Add the snow on the buildings and street, using thicker paint and varying shades of white.
step 05
Paint the figures, focusing on their silhouettes and basic shapes.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural elements.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and add highlights to the snow.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the bare tree branches and subtle color variations in the sky.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, black, and a touch of umber or sienna. Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing burnt sienna with yellow and white. Create the atmospheric perspective by using lighter and cooler colors for distant objects.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, which can make the painting look monotonous.