plate no. 3423

The First of November

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguresstreetbuildingsposterscobblestonecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in an urban environment and capturing the texture of various surfaces like cobblestone and weathered walls. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through color and value variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures, buildings, and perspective lines.
step 02
Block in the main color masses for the sky, buildings, and ground, focusing on accurate value relationships.
step 03
Develop the figures, paying attention to proportions, clothing folds, and skin tones.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, including the posters and architectural elements.
step 05
Paint the cobblestone street, varying the colors and values of individual stones to create texture.
step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting, enhancing the sense of depth.
step 07
Add final details, such as the figures in the background and the bare tree branches.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue for the figures' clothing and the posters. Use burnt umber and white for the buildings and cobblestone, adding touches of yellow ochre and red for warmth. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors in the background.

techniques