plate no. 7227

Antibes, the Pink Cloud

Paul Signac, 1916

oil, canvasPointillismlandscapeskycloudswaterboatslandscapeseascape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for pointillism and practice applying small, distinct brushstrokes. It also encourages careful observation of light and color variations in nature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, cloud shape, and boat positions.
step 02
Establish the main color areas: sky, clouds, water, and land.
step 03
Begin applying small dots of color to the sky, starting with the darker blues and gradually lightening towards the horizon.
step 04
Work on the clouds, using a mix of yellows, pinks, and whites to create depth and volume.
step 05
Apply dots of color to the water, reflecting the colors of the sky and clouds.
step 06
Add the boats, using darker colors for the hulls and brighter colors for the sails.
step 07
Refine the details, adding smaller dots of color to create texture and visual interest.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall effect, making any necessary adjustments to color and value.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · yellow ochre

Achieve the various shades of blue by mixing ultramarine with white and small amounts of crimson. Create pinks by mixing alizarin crimson with white. Use yellow ochre to mute the greens and yellows.

techniques