plate no. 0684

Harbor of Menton

Albert Marquet, 1905

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapeharborboatsbuildingswatercityscapesky

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to simplify complex scenes and capture light using visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing greens and blues for water and depicting architectural forms with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horizon line, the buildings, the boats, and the hills.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the water, the buildings, and the hills.
step 03
Start with the sky, mixing blues and whites to create a soft, diffused effect.
step 04
Mix various shades of green and blue for the water, using horizontal brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 05
Paint the buildings with a mix of yellows, whites, and browns, using simplified shapes to represent the architecture.
step 06
Add details to the boats, focusing on the shapes and colors of the hulls and masts.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Vary the greens by adding white or burnt umber. Achieve the building colors by mixing yellow ochre, white, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques