
plate no. 8308
Pierre Bonnard, 1938
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve nuanced hues and practice applying broken color techniques to create vibrant textures. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and forms.
technical profile
approach — 8 steps
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the hills, buildings, and major tree masses.
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending yellows, purples, and blues.
Block in the distant hills with muted blues and greens.
Begin adding the larger masses of buildings, using a mix of oranges, yellows, and blues to represent the roofs and walls.
Develop the foreground with greens and yellows, using broken color to create texture.
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and doors, using darker values.
Refine the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes, varying the colors to create depth.
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of light.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange · viridian green
secondary · purple · white · raw umber
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue or viridian green. Achieve purples by blending ultramarine blue and cadmium orange. Use white to lighten colors and create tints.
techniques
common pitfalls
surface · stretched canvas
required
optional
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a medium to adjust the consistency of the paint.
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