plate no. 0579

Antibes, Afternoon

Henri-Edmond Cross, 1908

oil, canvasPointillismlandscapelandscapetreeswatermountainscityscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for pointillism and how to create depth using color and size of dots. It also provides practice in building up an image using small, deliberate brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition: horizon line, mountains, city outline, and tree placement.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, mountains, and foreground vegetation.
step 03
Begin applying small dots of color to the sky, using variations of white, blue, and pink.
step 04
Continue the pointillist technique for the water, using blues, purples, and greens to create depth and texture.
step 05
Paint the mountains with a mix of purples, blues, and pinks, using smaller dots for distant areas.
step 06
Develop the foreground vegetation with a variety of greens, yellows, oranges, and reds, varying dot size to suggest depth.
step 07
Add details to the trees, using darker greens and oranges to define the foliage.
step 08
Refine the overall composition by adjusting color intensity and dot placement to create a harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · titanium white · yellow ochre

Mix blues and reds for purples in the mountains and water. Combine yellows and blues for various greens in the foliage. Use white to lighten colors and create subtle variations.

techniques