plate no. 1893

Pont Neuf

Petru Bat, 2018

oilImpressionismcityscapebridgerivertreesbuildingscityscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the bridge, buildings, riverbank, and trees with light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes of paint, focusing on the overall values.
step 03
Start building up the details of the bridge and buildings, using thicker paint and smaller brushstrokes.
step 04
Add the foliage of the trees, using a variety of yellows, oranges, and browns to create texture and depth.
step 05
Paint the river, reflecting the colors of the sky and surrounding buildings.
step 06
Add details to the riverbank, including the path and any figures.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · sap green · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the leaves, adding touches of burnt sienna for warmth. Mix greens for the riverbank by combining sap green, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Not paying attention to the values, which can make the painting look muddy.
→Failing to capture the light and atmosphere of the scene.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, sap green, payne's gray)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags