plate no. 1240

Houses Along a Road

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscaperoadhousestreeswallskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to use visible brushstrokes to create form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes.

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 road, walls, houses, and trees, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the road using a mix of yellow ochre, white, and a touch of burnt sienna.
step 04
Paint the walls with a mix of yellow ochre, white, and umber, varying the tones to create depth.
step 05
Add the greens of the trees and grass, mixing different shades of green with touches of yellow and blue.
step 06
Define the shapes of the houses with reds, browns, and grays, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 07
Add details such as the chimneys and the edges of the walls.
step 08
Refine the brushstrokes and color variations to capture the overall texture and mood.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · raw umber · cadmium red light

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve the wall color by mixing yellow ochre, white, and a touch of umber. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques