plate no. 5707

The Bievre at Gentilly

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)landscapelandscapebuildingstreesskycloudsfoliage

some experience helpful

This painting allows students to practice layering techniques for creating depth and atmospheric perspective. It also encourages simplifying complex forms into basic shapes, a key skill in representational art.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and gray tones, creating a sense of cloud formation.
step 03
Establish the background trees with dark reds and greens, varying the hues slightly.
step 04
Paint the buildings with light gray and white, paying attention to their simple geometric forms.
step 05
Add the foreground field with varying shades of green and brown.
step 06
Paint the tree in the foreground, starting with the trunk and adding branches.
step 07
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and chimneys.
step 08
Refine the foliage and add highlights to create depth.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Cadmium Red · Sap Green

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Umber

Mix blues and whites for the sky, reds and browns for the trees, and greens with yellow ochre for the field. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques