plate no. 2444
Porte St. Denis
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the impression of light and reflections on a wet street. It also provides practice in painting figures and architectural details in a loose, impressionistic style.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of buildings, figures, and the tree.
- step 02
Establish the sky and background with light blues and grays, using soft blending techniques.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and street using a limited palette of browns, grays, and creams.
- step 04
Add the tree, using short, broken brushstrokes to create the foliage and branches.
- step 05
Paint the figures and horse carriages, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 06
Create reflections on the wet street using horizontal strokes and variations in value.
- step 07
Add details such as windows, streetlights, and signage.
- step 08
Refine the painting with highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix grays by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create the warm tones of the streetlights and foliage. Add alizarin crimson to create the red tones of the figures' clothing.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken brushstrokes
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
- →Failing to establish a strong sense of atmospheric perspective.
- →Ignoring the importance of reflections on the wet street.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, creating a garish effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paints.
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