plate no. 2078

The House at Rueil

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapehousetreesgardenshutterspathfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, and practice loose, impressionistic brushwork to capture the essence of the scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and path, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the house, using a light yellow for the walls and blue for the shutters.
step 03
Add the darker tones of the trees and foliage, using a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Begin to define the details of the house, such as the windows, doors, and trim.
step 05
Add the flowers and plants in the garden, using a variety of colors and textures.
step 06
Paint the path, using a mix of blues and purples to create the illusion of depth.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · cadmium red

Mix yellow ochre and white for the house walls, adding small amounts of red or blue to adjust the tone. Use ultramarine blue and white for the shutters, and mix greens from blue and yellow with touches of burnt sienna to dull them.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·impressionistic brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, viridian green, cadmium red)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags