plate no. 2034

Rue Parisienne

Petru Bat, 2017

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetcafefiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve realistic light and shadow, as well as learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and forms. It's also a good exercise in capturing the atmosphere of a place.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure (light and dark).
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and brightest highlights to create depth.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes of the buildings and adding details like windows and doors.
step 05
Add the figures and cafe details, keeping them loose and impressionistic.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the warm and cool light.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create interest.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw sienna

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the values and create highlights. Mix red and yellow for warm tones, and blue and green for cool tones.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·impasto
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Not establishing a strong value structure.
→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
→Ignoring the warm and cool light.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags