plate no. 8227

Winter in Paris, Notre Dame

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapesnowNotre Damebuildingsfigurestrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, capturing light and shadow in a snowy scene, and rendering architectural details with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of Notre Dame, the river, and the buildings along the street.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of warm and cool grays.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and the sky, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the architectural details of Notre Dame and the buildings.
step 05
Paint the trees with thin, broken lines, suggesting the branches and twigs.
step 06
Add the figures and other details along the street, using small, quick brushstrokes.
step 07
Apply highlights to the snow-covered surfaces to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and convincing scene.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Achieve the muted tones by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber, yellow ochre, and ultramarine blue. Use burnt sienna and cadmium yellow for warmer highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can result in a stiff and unnatural look.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of atmospheric perspective, which can flatten the image.
→Using too much pure white, which can make the snow look harsh and unrealistic.
→Neglecting the subtle color variations in the sky and the snow.