plate no. 8068

Quay du Louvre, Winter

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapesnowbuildingsstreetvehiclesfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the reflections of light on wet surfaces. It also provides practice in painting architectural details and figures in a loose, impressionistic style.

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 perspective of the buildings and the placement of the main elements.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the sky and background with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings, vehicles, and figures using darker values of brown and gray.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the snow-covered ground, paying attention to the reflections of light and color.
step 06
Add the bare trees and branches in the foreground using thin lines and a dry brush technique.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and vehicles, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the lights in the buildings and the reflections in the wet street.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and ivory black. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of red and green to create subtle color variations.

techniques