plate no. 9634
View of Notre-Dame, Paris
Johan Jongkind, 1864
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex architectural details. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through tonal variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the skyline of Notre Dame, the riverbank, and the river.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of yellow ochre and white, blending to create a soft gradient.
- step 03
Establish the basic tones of the buildings and riverbank using a mix of burnt umber, raw sienna, and white.
- step 04
Define the silhouette of Notre Dame with darker values, simplifying the architectural details.
- step 05
Add the river, reflecting the sky and buildings with horizontal brushstrokes.
- step 06
Paint the figures and boats in the foreground, using small, gestural strokes.
- step 07
Refine the details of the riverbank and add highlights to the water.
- step 08
Add final touches to the sky and blend any harsh edges.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white. Use ultramarine blue sparingly to create cooler shadows in the water and buildings. Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the warm tones of the riverbank.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·tonal painting
- ·simplified architectural rendering
- ·wet-on-dry blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the buildings
- →Creating too much contrast in the sky
- →Making the river too uniform in color
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the foreground
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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