plate no. 9145

L'auberge du Pont de Poissy

oilRealismgenre paintingbuildinghorsesfiguresstreetskytavern

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and animals, as well as creating depth and atmosphere through subtle color variations and value shifts. It also provides practice in depicting architectural details and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the building, sky, and ground, using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the details of the building, including the windows, signage, and architectural elements.
step 04
Block in the figures and horses, focusing on their proportions and anatomy.
step 05
Refine the figures and horses with more detail, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Work on the street and foreground, adding texture and detail to the cobblestones and barrels.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · cerulean blue · sap green

Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre. Use ivory black and titanium white to create the grays and shadows. Mix small amounts of cadmium red and cerulean blue to create the muted colors for the figures' clothing.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures and horses wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, cerulean blue, sap green)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags