plate no. 1982

The Passage Cottin

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetcityscapearchitecturesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand perspective in urban environments and practice simplified color mixing to capture the atmosphere of a cityscape. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details with loose brushstrokes.

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 and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin, even layer of a muted gray-blue.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the buildings, focusing on the overall tones rather than precise details.
step 04
Add darker values to indicate shadows and architectural details, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Introduce lighter values to represent highlights and create depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and street, paying attention to the perspective.
step 07
Add the signage and lettering with a small brush, simplifying the forms.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, umber, and a touch of blue. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm tones for the buildings. Add small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature of the grays.

techniques

·blocking
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, resulting in a distorted composition.
→Overworking the details, losing the loose and painterly feel.
→Using colors that are too saturated, creating an unrealistic atmosphere.
→Ignoring the subtle value shifts that create depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·#2 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing and achieve a harmonious result. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting to paint.

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