plate no. 2097

Rue Royal Madeleine

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetpeopletreestram

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, capturing reflections, and using broken color to create a sense of movement and light. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes and focusing on essential shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, street, tram, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the sky and the overall value structure with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and street using simplified color blocks.
step 04
Add the tram and other vehicles, focusing on their basic forms and placement.
step 05
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 07
Add reflections on the wet street using horizontal brushstrokes and varying values.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray for the sky and buildings by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the warm tones of the buildings and street. Add small amounts of cadmium red and viridian green for accents.

techniques