plate no. 9403

Ray Embankment in Basel in the rain

gouache, cardboardPost-Impressionismgenre paintingcityscaperiverfiguresrainbuildingstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the mood of a rainy day. It also provides practice in rendering reflections and figures in motion.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the buildings, riverbank, figures, and trees.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey/brown to establish the overall tone of the sky and water.
step 03
Add darker washes to define the buildings and trees in the background, using atmospheric perspective to suggest distance.
step 04
Paint the figures and their reflections, paying attention to their posture and movement in the rain.
step 05
Add details to the riverbank and buildings, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Use a fine brush to add the bare branches of the trees in the foreground.
step 07
Add highlights to the wet surfaces to suggest the light reflecting off the rain.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · grey · brown · beige

secondary · red · dark blue · white

Mix various shades of grey and brown by combining complementary colors like burnt umber and ultramarine blue with white. Use diluted washes to create subtle gradations of tone.

techniques