plate no. 4207

Place du Palais Royal

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfigurestreesstreetParis

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a bustling city scene with loose brushwork. Students will also learn to simplify complex architectural details and focus on capturing the overall impression.

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 buildings and the main street.
step 02
Establish the sky and ground with broad washes of muted grays and browns.
step 03
Block in the buildings using simplified shapes and values, paying attention to perspective.
step 04
Add the trees with thin, gestural lines, suggesting branches and foliage.
step 05
Paint the figures with quick, expressive strokes, focusing on their silhouettes and movement.
step 06
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add details such as street lamps, signs, and reflections on the wet pavement.
step 08
Refine the painting with subtle color variations and adjustments to values.

color palette

primary · gray · brown · white · yellow ochre

secondary · red · blue · purple · black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., brown and blue) with white. Use yellow ochre to create warm highlights and subtle variations in the buildings and street.

techniques