plate no. 9217

The Red Roofs of Haarlem, aka A Street in Holland

William Merritt Chase, 1903

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskyflowerstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing light and shadow in an urban setting. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex forms and using a limited palette to create a harmonious scene.

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 street, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the buildings, using a warm underpainting.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows and architectural details.
step 05
Introduce the figures and other elements, keeping them simple and suggestive.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, such as windows and roof tiles.
step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Blend and soften edges to create a cohesive and impressionistic effect.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the base tones of the buildings. Use white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of blue to darken the shadows.

techniques