plate no. 6493

Mondement

Fernand Combes, 1914

charcoal, colored pencilsImpressionismlandscapebuildingstreeslandscapeskyruinschurch

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in depicting architectural details and organic forms like trees.

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: buildings, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the basic value structure with light charcoal or a diluted wash.
step 03
Block in the main color areas, starting with the sky and background.
step 04
Develop the details of the buildings, focusing on light and shadow.
step 05
Add the trees, paying attention to their branching structure and texture.
step 06
Refine the foreground details, adding depth and interest.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · gray · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing grays with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use ivory black to darken values and raw sienna for subtle warmth.

techniques