plate no. 3087
Porte St. Martin
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and using loose brushstrokes to suggest detail rather than render it precisely. It also provides practice in depicting reflections and creating a sense of movement.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and arches.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point(s).
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and street using thin washes.
- step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows and architectural details.
- step 05
Paint the figures and carriages with quick, gestural brushstrokes.
- step 06
Create reflections on the wet street using horizontal strokes and varying values.
- step 07
Add highlights and details to the buildings and figures to create focal points.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · gray · beige · brown · white
secondary · red · green · yellow · blue
Mix grays by combining complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, or brown and blue). Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric haze. Achieve warm tones by mixing browns with yellows and reds.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints: titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium red
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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