plate no. 4051

Pérouges, Rue Des Princes

Fernand Combes, 1919

watercolorImpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetarchitecturewindowsdoorsvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, color mixing for realistic textures, and layering watercolor washes to create depth and form.

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
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre to the buildings as a base layer.
step 03
Add shadows and darker tones to the buildings using a mix of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue.
step 04
Paint the sky with a diluted wash of cerulean blue, leaving some areas lighter for clouds.
step 05
Add details to the windows and doors using a fine brush and darker shades of brown and gray.
step 06
Paint the vegetation with varying shades of green, using a dry brush technique for texture.
step 07
Add details to the street and ground with a mix of browns and grays, suggesting cobblestones and dirt.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cerulean blue · sap green · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre with burnt sienna for warm building tones. Combine ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for shadows and grays. Use cerulean blue diluted for the sky.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·perspective drawing
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much water, which can cause the colors to bleed.
→Not paying attention to perspective, which can make the buildings look distorted.
→Making the colors too saturated, which can make the painting look unnatural.