plate no. 2775

Le Puy. The Sunny Plaza

oilPointillismcityscapecityscapeplazabuildingsskyfigurescross

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, pointillism technique, and understanding how small dots of color create larger forms. It also encourages patience and attention to detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the buildings, the cross, the mountain, and the plaza.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and basic perspective.
step 03
Start with the sky, applying small dots of blue, white, and hints of pink and yellow.
step 04
Move to the mountain, using earth tones, reds, and oranges in a pointillist manner.
step 05
Paint the buildings, using a base of light yellow and adding dots of blue, orange, and white to create shadows and highlights.
step 06
Address the plaza, using a mix of orange, red, yellow, and brown dots to simulate the cobblestones.
step 07
Add the figures and trees, using darker greens, blues, and browns.
step 08
Refine the details, such as the cross and the windows, and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · cadmium red light · sap green

Achieve the subtle color variations by mixing small amounts of complementary colors. For example, mix a touch of blue into your oranges to create shadows, or a touch of orange into your blues to create atmospheric haze.

techniques