plate no. 5122

Montmartre

canvas, oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetskyarchitectureurban

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through tonal variations. Students will also learn to simplify complex architectural forms into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the street, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the sky and the general tones of the buildings and street with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the darker values in the foreground and gradually lighten the values as you move towards the background to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using small brushstrokes and varying values.
step 05
Create the impression of wetness on the street by adding highlights and reflections with light-colored paint.
step 06
Refine the brushwork and add texture to the buildings and street using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value relationships to create a harmonious and unified painting.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of blue and yellow. Use more white for the sky and distant buildings to create atmospheric perspective.

techniques