plate no. 5450

Place Clichy

oil, boardRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfiguresskycloudsstreet

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, capturing movement with loose brushstrokes, and creating a sense of depth in a complex urban environment. It also provides practice in rendering figures in varying degrees of detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and perspective lines.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of light blue and white, suggesting cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the horizon line and the main shapes of the buildings, using a muted palette of browns, grays, and creams.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, focusing on the variations in tone and texture.
step 05
Block in the foreground with a mix of browns and grays, creating the cobblestone street.
step 06
Add figures using quick, gestural brushstrokes, varying the level of detail based on their distance from the viewer.
step 07
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and add final touches, such as street lamps and signage.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones of the buildings by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding more blue to distant elements.

techniques