plate no. 3266
Le Vieux Rouen, Rue Haranguerie et St Vincent
Fernand Combes, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in using a limited color palette to create a cohesive mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the street, focusing on perspective lines.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing point.
- step 03
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features.
- step 04
Begin shading with charcoal or pencil, using darker tones for areas in shadow and lighter tones for areas in light.
- step 05
Apply colored pencil to enhance the yellow and blue tones, focusing on the overall color harmony.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend tones to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · Prussian blue
secondary · raw umber · white
Mix yellow ochre with small amounts of Prussian blue to create the muted greens and grays. Use white to lighten the yellow ochre for highlights.
techniques
- ·linear perspective
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·tonal shading
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective leading to distorted buildings
- →Overworking the details, losing the overall impressionistic feel
- →Uneven blending creating a muddy effect
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, resulting in a flat image
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·sketchpad
- ·charcoal pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·colored pencils (yellow ochre, Prussian blue, raw umber)
- ·eraser
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
optional
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative spray
- ·drawing board
Use a smooth drawing paper for best results with charcoal and colored pencils. A slightly textured paper can also work well.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
