plate no. 5921

Houses in Trouville

Raoul Dufy, 1933

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)cityscapebuildingscityscapefiguresskyarchitecturestreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey form and texture. It will also improve their understanding of color relationships and how to create a sense of depth with limited detail.

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 and figures, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a diluted blue wash, allowing for variations in tone.
step 03
Apply the base colors for the buildings (red, white, blue) using broad, visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and rooflines, with darker shades of the base colors.
step 05
Paint the figures with simplified shapes and limited detail, using a variety of colors for clothing.
step 06
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the linework and add any final details to enhance the overall composition.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · black

Mix various shades of blue for the sky and building details. Create muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques