plate no. 5163

View of a square in Avignon, with a hardware store

watercolor, pencil, gouacheImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfiguresstreetskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting architectural details with watercolor.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted neutral gray or brown for the sky and street, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Begin adding washes of color to the buildings, starting with the lightest tones and gradually building up darker values.
step 04
Use a smaller brush to add details to the architecture, such as windows, doors, and signage.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground with quick, gestural strokes, focusing on their shapes and movement.
step 06
Add shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of the light.
step 07
Use dry brush techniques to add texture to the buildings and street.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · Payne's Gray · Burnt Sienna · Yellow Ochre

secondary · Cerulean Blue · Sap Green

Mix Payne's Gray with Burnt Sienna for various shades of gray and brown. Use Yellow Ochre to warm up the grays and create a sense of sunlight. Add a touch of Cerulean Blue to the sky wash for atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·layering washes
·lost and found edges

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall scene.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints
·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·Watercolor paper (140lb)
·Palette
·Water container
·Pencil
·Eraser

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Ruler
·Spray bottle

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes and shapes to achieve a variety of effects.

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