plate no. 2577

Le Grand Palais

oil, canvasContemporary Realismcityscapearchitecturecityscapestatuesbuildingskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes and values. It's also a good exercise in capturing subtle color variations in a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the buildings and statues.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the most prominent building masses.
step 03
Establish the basic value structure, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin adding details to the architectural elements, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Introduce the darker tones in the shadows and the warmer tones in the highlights.
step 06
Add the foliage on the right side, using broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves and branches.
step 07
Refine the details of the statues and architectural ornaments, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix ultramarine blue and raw umber with varying amounts of titanium white to achieve the cool grays and blues of the sky and buildings. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the warmer tones of the architectural details and foliage.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·layering
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting lost in the complexity of the architecture and not simplifying the forms.