plate no. 8130

Cliffs at Etretat

oilImpressionismmarinacliffswavesseaskycloudsrocks

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and movement, as well as capturing the dynamic energy of water and sky with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cliffs, sea, and sky, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted color to establish the general color scheme and value ranges.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values of the cliffs and sea, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add the lighter values and highlights to create form and dimension.
step 05
Focus on capturing the movement of the waves with dynamic brushstrokes and color variations.
step 06
Develop the sky with layers of blues, whites, and grays, blending the colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the details of the cliffs and rocks, adding texture and highlights.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · payne's gray

Mix blues and whites for the sky and sea, adding touches of green and gray for depth. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the cliffs, mixing with white for highlights and gray for shadows. Achieve the wave foam by mixing white with small amounts of blue and gray.

techniques