plate no. 8754

Alpes Maritimes

John Duncan Fergusson, 1914

oilFauvismlandscapemountainstreeslandscapebuildingsskyvegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a vibrant landscape. It also encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, buildings, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and grey.
step 03
Establish the mountain range using a mix of blues, purples, and pinks, focusing on broad strokes.
step 04
Define the larger shapes of the trees and foliage with dark greens and blues.
step 05
Add the building shapes using ochre and brown tones, keeping them simplified.
step 06
Develop the foreground with a mix of greens, reds, and browns, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Add highlights to the trees and mountains with lighter shades of the base colors.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the color balance to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Achieve the mountain colors by mixing blues, purples, and pinks with white. Create greens by mixing blues and yellows. Use burnt umber and alizarin crimson for earth tones.

techniques