plate no. 9770

The Church at Montreuil

Philip Wilson Steer, 1907

oilImpressionismcityscapechurchbuildingsskycityscapearchitectureclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing the atmospheric perspective of a cityscape. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes and values.

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 and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, suggesting cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the main value masses of the buildings using a limited palette of grays and whites.
step 04
Add darker values to define shadows and architectural details.
step 05
Introduce subtle color variations to the buildings, such as hints of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, focusing on capturing the overall impression rather than precise accuracy.
step 07
Add a few small figures to the foreground to suggest scale and activity.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of atmospheric perspective.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of gray by combining white with raw umber and small amounts of blue or sienna. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm highlights on the buildings.

techniques