plate no. 0315

View of the belfry of Orleans

oilRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingstowerskystreetfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, color mixing to achieve muted tones, and layering washes to create depth and detail. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the tower, buildings, and street, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey-blue for the sky, allowing it to dry completely.
step 03
Begin layering washes of browns and greys for the tower and buildings, building up darker values gradually.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and rooflines, using a fine brush.
step 05
Paint the street and foreground with washes of browns and greys, suggesting the texture of the cobblestones.
step 06
Add the figure and cart with simple shapes and details.
step 07
Refine the details of the tower, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · payne's grey

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white

Mix raw umber and Payne's grey to create various shades of grey for the buildings and sky. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for warmer tones in the buildings and street. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·layering washes
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→overworking details too early
→using colors that are too bright or saturated
→ignoring perspective
→not allowing washes to dry completely before adding more layers

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb)
·palette
·water container
·pencil
·eraser

optional

·masking fluid
·ruler
·palette knife
·kneaded eraser

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

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