plate no. 9386

Old Absinthe House, Bourbon Street, Old French Quarter

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingstreetfigurescityscapebalconylanterns

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing architectural details with loose brushstrokes and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a crowd.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building and street scene, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the building, sky, and ground, using thin washes.
step 03
Add details to the building, such as windows, balconies, and architectural features, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the figures in the foreground and background, simplifying their forms and using a limited palette.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the lanterns and other street furniture.
step 07
Glaze the painting with thin washes of color to unify the composition.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · gray · green · white · brown

secondary · red · yellow · blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to create variations in value. Use thin washes of color to create atmospheric perspective.

techniques