plate no. 1272

Paris. Mouffetard Street

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetcityscapefiguresshopssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice loose, expressive brushwork to capture the atmosphere of a city street. Students will also learn how to simplify complex architectural forms into basic shapes.

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 street, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the sky and then the buildings.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the shadows and doorways.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply colors for the awnings and signage, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add the figures in the street with quick, gestural strokes.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights to create points of interest.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix burnt umber with ultramarine blue and white for the cool grays of the street. Use raw sienna and yellow ochre to create the warm tones of the buildings. Add small amounts of cadmium red to create the red buildings.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·atmospheric perspective
·gestural brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Not establishing a strong value structure, resulting in a flat painting.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, leading to a harsh palette.
→Ignoring the perspective and creating distorted buildings.