plate no. 8439
Le Boulevard Jourdan, Paris
Johan Jongkind, 1865
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the mood of a scene with limited color variations. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes and using loose brushwork to suggest detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and road.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and pink, creating a subtle gradient.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and buildings using a mix of dark greens, browns, and blues.
- step 04
Add the road using muted greens and browns, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 05
Paint the figures and animals with simple shapes and minimal detail.
- step 06
Refine the details of the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create texture.
- step 07
Add final touches to the sky and road, blending colors and adjusting values as needed.
- step 08
Let dry and add a thin glaze to unify the colors.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Umber · Titanium White
secondary · Yellow Ochre · Cadmium Red Light
Mix Prussian Blue and Burnt Umber for the dark greens and browns. Use Titanium White to lighten the colors and create subtle variations. Add a touch of Yellow Ochre to warm the colors and Cadmium Red Light to create the sunset glow.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush
- ·limited palette
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Using too much color and creating a garish effect.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not simplifying the shapes of the trees and buildings.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red Light)
- ·Round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·Flat brush (#8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Retouch varnish
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better paint adhesion. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color scheme.
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