plate no. 1817

Moutier street and square de la Mairie

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapestreetbuildingstreesskyfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and capturing the essence of a scene with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in mixing muted colors and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective lines of the street and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, trees, and sky with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the basic value structure, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features.
step 05
Paint the trees, using a variety of greens and browns to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add the figures, keeping them simple and gestural.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) with white. Use raw umber and white for the gray tones of the street and sky.

techniques