plate no. 4703

Place in Paris

oilAmerican Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfigurestreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and using loose brushstrokes to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the buildings, tower, street, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using loose, blended strokes.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the buildings and tower, focusing on their overall value and temperature.
step 04
Paint the street with a warm, neutral tone, adding variations in color and value to suggest texture and shadows.
step 05
Add the trees and foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes to create a sense of depth and movement.
step 06
Introduce the figures and carriage, simplifying their forms and focusing on their placement within the scene.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and tower, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and street, adjusting the colors and values as needed to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and white for the warm tones of the street and buildings. Add small amounts of cadmium yellow to create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima
·scumbling
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of perspective.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth and form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, raw sienna, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife