plate no. 1065
La Madeleine Boulevard des Capucines
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, capturing light and shadow, and using expressive brushstrokes to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely. It also provides practice in composing a complex scene with many elements.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective lines of the street and buildings.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, sky, and street with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth.
- step 04
Add the trees and figures, using loose, gestural brushstrokes.
- step 05
Develop the details of the buildings and street, paying attention to the effects of light and shadow.
- step 06
Refine the colors and values, blending and layering as needed.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · payne's gray
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create warm highlights, and alizarin crimson to add touches of red to the figures and buildings.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
- →Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
- →Ignoring the effects of light and shadow.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 filbert brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paints.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
