plate no. 1930
View of Paris from Monmartre
Raoul Dufy, 1902
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the horizon line, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue, grey, and white, suggesting the clouds.
- step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the buildings using a limited palette of browns, oranges, and whites.
- step 04
Add darker values to create shadows and define the forms of the buildings.
- step 05
Paint the street with warm yellows and browns, varying the tones to suggest unevenness.
- step 06
Add small figures to the foreground to give a sense of scale.
- step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and the sky, adding subtle color variations.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the impressionistic feel.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium orange · payne's gray · raw sienna
Mix different shades of gray by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Achieve warm browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and a touch of cadmium orange.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush
- ·alla prima
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and lacking variation.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes size 4 and 8
- ·flat brush size 6
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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