plate no. 1666

The Street

Fernando Botero, 1987

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)cityscapestreetbuildingsfigurescityscapehillsanimals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting perspective, color mixing to achieve the unique Botero palette, and painting simplified human figures. It also encourages observation of light and shadow on buildings and figures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the street layout, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Lightly sketch in the positions of the figures, keeping their proportions in mind.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the buildings, using a limited palette and focusing on local color.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the buildings to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Paint the figures, paying attention to their simplified forms and unique proportions.
step 06
Add details to the figures, such as clothing, faces, and accessories.
step 07
Paint the cobblestone street, using a mix of grays and browns.
step 08
Add final details, such as the flags, power lines, and other small elements.

color palette

primary · ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of complementary colors. Use ochre and burnt sienna for the warm building tones. Mix ultramarine with white and a touch of burnt sienna for the sky.

techniques