plate no. 1417

French Landscape

C. R. W. Nevinson, 1940

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingswaterboatsfiguresskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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 buildings, hills, and water line.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of color, focusing on light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the buildings, water, and sky using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and awnings, with thicker paint and smaller brushes.
step 05
Create the reflections in the water using horizontal brushstrokes and slightly darker values.
step 06
Add the figures and boats with simple shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · gray · white · blue · ochre

secondary · red · dark green · brown

Mix various shades of gray by combining white with small amounts of blue, ochre, and brown. Achieve the water color by mixing blue, white, and a touch of green.

techniques