plate no. 6812

Place from a knoll Sacred Heart

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresnightreflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections on wet surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting figures in motion 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 the buildings and the Sacré-Cœur in the background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure, blocking in the darks and lights with thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding the warm glow of the streetlights and shop windows, using thicker paint.
step 04
Define the figures with simple shapes and gestures, paying attention to their interaction with the light.
step 05
Create the reflections on the wet street using horizontal brushstrokes and varying the color and value.
step 06
Add details to the buildings and vehicles, but avoid overworking them.
step 07
Refine the edges and soften the transitions between colors.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray and blue for the sky and buildings. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the warm light sources. Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for darks.

techniques