plate no. 2994

Place du Palais Royal, Rainy Day

oilRealismgenre paintingcityscapefiguresbuildingstreesfountainflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in wet surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a busy urban environment.

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 the fountain, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of warm undertones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 04
Add details to the fountain and the figures, using small brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the wet pavement, using lighter values and blurred edges to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Develop the foliage of the trees with varied greens and blues, suggesting the effect of light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and figures, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the flowers in the basket and the details of the street lamps.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · titanium white

Mix various shades of gray by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of burnt umber and red.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value, which can flatten the image.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective, which can make the background appear too sharp and detailed.
→Not creating enough variation in the reflections, which can make them look unrealistic.