plate no. 7354
Paris, La Seine
Włodzimierz Zakrzewski, 1967
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto techniques and capturing atmospheric perspective using a limited color palette. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, river, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the sky and water with broad strokes of muted blues and grays.
- step 03
Block in the buildings using a mix of yellows, grays, and blues, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add the trees, using thick paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture and detail.
- step 05
Refine the details of the river, adding highlights and reflections.
- step 06
Develop the foreground with textured strokes of browns, greens, and grays.
- step 07
Add final touches to the trees and buildings, adjusting values and colors as needed.
- step 08
Step back and evaluate the overall balance and harmony of the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray
Achieve the muted tones by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Use burnt sienna to warm up the browns and add depth.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·palette knife application
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, payne's gray)
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted bristle brushes (flat and round)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to enhance the texture of the painting. Consider using a palette knife for applying thick layers of paint.
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