plate no. 7642

Boats at Cassis

oilImpressionismgenre paintingboatswaterfiguresbuildingsharborsky

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice watercolor washes and capturing light and shadow with subtle color variations. It also provides an opportunity to learn how to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.

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 boats, buildings, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and gray to the sky and water, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
Add a slightly darker wash to the buildings and boats, using a mix of browns, grays, and blues.
step 04
Define the shapes of the boats and figures with slightly darker values, using a small brush.
step 05
Add details to the water by suggesting reflections with horizontal strokes of diluted blue and brown.
step 06
Use dry brush technique to create texture on the buildings and boats.
step 07
Add final details, such as the figures in the background and the rigging on the boats.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust values and colors as needed to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix cerulean blue with a touch of raw umber to create the cool grays for the water and boats. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the warmer tones in the buildings and figures.

techniques