plate no. 1369

Roofs of Paris

Francis Picabia, 1900

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingssnowroofssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and harmonious composition. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of muted yellow and gray.
step 03
Establish the darkest values on the buildings using a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine blue.
step 04
Begin adding the snow on the roofs, using white mixed with small amounts of blue and yellow to create subtle variations.
step 05
Develop the mid-tones on the buildings, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 06
Add details such as windows and architectural features with small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges of the buildings and the snow, softening some and sharpening others to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights to the snow and rooftops to enhance the sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix white with small amounts of blue and yellow for the snow. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark grays and shadows. Add yellow ochre to the sky to create a muted, atmospheric effect.

techniques