plate no. 8549

Street in Beauvais

oilRomanticismcityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskyarchitecturecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and capturing light and shadow on architectural forms. It's a good exercise in creating depth and a sense of place.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing point to guide the perspective.
step 03
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and raw sienna to the buildings, leaving highlights.
step 04
Add darker values to the shadows using burnt umber and indigo, building up the depth.
step 05
Paint the sky with a very diluted blue wash, blending it softly with the clouds.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using a fine brush.
step 07
Paint the figures in the street with quick, gestural strokes, using a mix of reds, blues, and browns.
step 08
Add final details, such as birds in the sky and subtle variations in color and value.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · indigo · cadmium red light · titanium white

Mix yellow ochre and raw sienna for the warm tones of the buildings. Use burnt umber and indigo for shadows. Dilute colors significantly for transparent washes.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Not establishing a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the principles of perspective.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, raw sienna, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, indigo)
·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil
·Eraser