plate no. 8691

Barges on the Seine

oil, canvasPointillismlandscaperiverboatstreesskyfigureslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in pointillism and color mixing to create subtle variations in light and shadow. It will also improve their understanding of atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, riverbank, boats, and figures.
step 02
Establish the sky with light, broken strokes of pink, yellow, and white.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the trees and riverbank with varying shades of green and brown.
step 04
Begin applying small, distinct dots of color to build up the forms of the trees, grass, and water.
step 05
Paint the boats using darker colors for the hulls and lighter colors for the decks, paying attention to reflections in the water.
step 06
Add details to the figures, using small dots of color to define their shapes.
step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting the colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · violet

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and create subtle variations by adding white or burnt umber. Achieve the sky's soft hues by blending white with small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre.

techniques