plate no. 1861

Ceret Lanscape

Chaim Soutine, 1920

oil, canvasExpressionismlandscapebuildingslandscapetreeshillsvillage

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and understanding how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It will also help with learning how to create depth and texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hills, and trees, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the darkest tones and gradually adding lighter values.
step 03
Begin applying thicker paint with visible brushstrokes, following the direction of the forms to create texture and depth.
step 04
Focus on capturing the overall color harmony and mood of the painting, rather than precise details.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create the foliage and ground, varying the color and value to suggest depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the buildings and trees to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and blend the colors where necessary to create a sense of unity.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall effect, making any final adjustments to the color, value, and composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium orange · viridian

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Mix greens by combining viridian with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Achieve the warm tones of the roofs by mixing cadmium orange with burnt umber and a touch of cadmium red. Vary the white with touches of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create different shades.

techniques