plate no. 0094

Paris, Place de la Republique

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapesnowstreetbuildingsfiguresnight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color temperature, and capturing the effect of light reflecting off wet surfaces. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes and suggesting detail with loose brushwork.

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 major elements like buildings, the monument, and the street.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of warm browns and yellows for the sky and cooler tones for the street.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and the monument using darker values.
step 04
Add the street and snow, using a mix of white, gray, and blue to create the illusion of depth and wetness.
step 05
Paint the figures and vehicles with quick, gestural brushstrokes, focusing on their silhouettes and color.
step 06
Add highlights to the buildings, street, and figures to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 07
Paint the bare tree branches with thin, dark lines, adding small touches of white for snow.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Achieve the warm glow of the lights by mixing cadmium yellow with a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the cool tones of the snow and wet street by mixing titanium white with ultramarine blue and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques