plate no. 2804

Palais Royal

oil, canvasContemporary Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingsarchitectureskyflagrooftops

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for subtle tonal variations, and rendering architectural details with simplified brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective to suggest depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and rooftops.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin, even layer of the dominant blue-gray color.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the buildings using a limited palette of grays and browns.
step 04
Start adding details to the buildings, focusing on the windows, architectural ornaments, and shadows.
step 05
Mix subtle variations of the gray tones to create depth and dimension in the rooftops and walls.
step 06
Paint the distant buildings and Sacré-Cœur with lighter values and less detail to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add the flag, paying attention to its shape and the way it catches the light.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · gray · blue-gray · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the subtle gray tones by mixing ivory black and titanium white, and adjust the warmth or coolness with small amounts of burnt umber or ultramarine blue. Use raw sienna to add warmth to the building facades.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·tonal painting
·linear perspective
·dry brushing
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong
→Overworking the details
→Using too much color saturation
→Failing to create a sense of depth

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
·Palette
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette knife
·Rags