plate no. 1755

Le Pont des Arts, Paris

oilImpressionismcityscaperiverbridgebuildingstreesfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the riverbank, bridge, buildings, and trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a diluted grey-blue wash, allowing it to blend softly.
step 03
Paint the river with horizontal strokes, varying the tones of grey and brown to suggest reflections.
step 04
Add the distant buildings and bridge, focusing on their overall shapes rather than precise details.
step 05
Paint the trees with thin, gestural strokes, using a mix of browns and blacks.
step 06
Add the figures along the riverbank with quick, simple strokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the bridge and buildings, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · grey · brown · blue

secondary · black · white · ochre

Achieve the various grey tones by mixing black and white, and add small amounts of blue or brown to adjust the temperature. Use diluted washes for the sky and river, and thicker paint for the buildings and trees.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush
·atmospheric perspective
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Making the colors too saturated and vibrant.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
→Not simplifying the architectural details enough.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints (or acrylics)
·Watercolor paper (or canvas)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brush
·Palette
·Water container
·Pencil
·Eraser

optional

·palette knife
·masking fluid
·ruler

Using a limited palette will help to create a cohesive and harmonious painting. Experiment with different brushstrokes to achieve a variety of textures and effects.

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