plate no. 8427

Palais Royal

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskyreflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, capturing atmospheric perspective, and simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values. It also provides practice in painting reflections and figures in motion.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of buildings and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of muted blues, grays, and pinks.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings with dark browns and grays, paying attention to perspective.
step 04
Add the street surface with a base layer of gray, leaving space for reflections.
step 05
Paint the figures using quick, gestural strokes, focusing on their silhouettes and colors.
step 06
Create reflections on the wet street using slightly lighter and more saturated versions of the colors above.
step 07
Add details like windows, architectural elements, and tree branches with smaller brushes.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create depth and atmosphere.