plate no. 8911

The Wait

Jean Béraud, 1900

oil, canvasImpressionismgenre paintingstreetbuildingfigurewomancityscaperoad

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a realistic yet impressionistic style. It's a good exercise in capturing light and shadow on architectural forms and using a limited palette to create a sense of mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the street and buildings.
step 02
Block in the main shapes with thin washes of color, starting with the sky and the distant buildings.
step 03
Establish the values on the street, creating a sense of depth with lighter tones in the distance.
step 04
Paint the buildings, paying attention to the subtle color variations and the shapes of the windows.
step 05
Add the figures, starting with the larger figure in the foreground and then the smaller figure in the distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures and the buildings, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray and beige by combining white, black, umber, and ochre. Use burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create darker shades and subtle variations in the buildings and street.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can detract from the impressionistic style.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective, which can make the composition feel flat.
→Using too many colors, which can create a chaotic and unbalanced painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the buildings and street.