apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·Le Moulin de la Galette
Le Moulin de la Galette by Louis Vivin

plate no. 9564

Le Moulin de la Galette

Louis Vivin, 1926

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)cityscapewindmillbuildingscityscapeskyarchitecturestreet
suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified forms and learn to create texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides experience in creating a sense of depth through linear perspective in a simplified manner.

technical profile

palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, windmill, and street, paying attention to proportions and perspective.

  2. step 02

    Block in the sky with a light blue wash, leaving some areas uneven for texture.

  3. step 03

    Paint the main colors of the buildings: yellow, white, and gray, using flat, opaque layers.

  4. step 04

    Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and brick patterns, using a smaller brush.

  5. step 05

    Paint the windmill, focusing on the texture of the wood and the shape of the blades.

  6. step 06

    Create the street using a grid pattern, varying the tones of gray to suggest depth.

  7. step 07

    Add final details and touch-ups to refine the painting.

  8. step 08

    Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · light blue · yellow · gray · white

secondary · brown · green

Mix light blue by combining white with a touch of blue. Achieve various grays by mixing white and black in different ratios.

techniques

  • ·flat color application
  • ·linear perspective
  • ·hatching
  • ·dry brushing

common pitfalls

  • →overcomplicating the details
  • →uneven perspective
  • →muddy colors
  • →lack of contrast

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·acrylic paints
  • ·canvas or painting panel
  • ·round brushes (various sizes)
  • ·flat brushes (various sizes)
  • ·palette
  • ·water container
  • ·paper towels

optional

  • ·palette knife
  • ·ruler
  • ·easel

Use student-grade acrylics for affordability. A canvas size of 12x16 inches is recommended.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
chat about this artwork

in this vein

related artworks

Shepherd and his Lover

Shepherd and his Lover

Bertalan Por

The sketch to the movie "Colour of Pomegranate". "Muse"

The sketch to the movie "Colour of Pomegranate". "Muse"

Sergei Parajanov

Surprised!

Surprised!

Henri Rousseau

Holy Mountain I

Holy Mountain I

Horace Pippin

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Alfred Wallis

Willage. Horse Taming

Willage. Horse Taming

Victor Palmov

Old Corn Mill, Keighley

Old Corn Mill, Keighley

John Bradley

Winter Still Life with Candle

Winter Still Life with Candle

Mary Fedden