plate no. 3758

House of Millet at Barbizon

oilRealismcityscapestreetbuildingstreesfigureskycarriage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It also encourages practicing loose, expressive brushwork to create texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, trees, and road, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, leaving some areas for clouds.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the buildings using a mix of ochre, white, and a touch of burnt umber.
step 04
Paint the trees using dark greens and browns, varying the shades to create depth.
step 05
Add the road using a mix of ochre, white, and a touch of burnt sienna, varying the tones to suggest light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the figure and carriage with quick, loose strokes.
step 07
Add details like windows, doors, and foliage with smaller brushes.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting values and adding highlights.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · burnt sienna

Mix ochre and white for the buildings, adding small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix greens from blue and yellow. Use burnt sienna and white for the road.

techniques