plate no. 4947

L'église De Locmaria [à Quimper

Max Jacob, 1927

gouache, paperExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingswatertreesboatssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms.

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, water, and trees, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white, allowing for some variation in tone.
step 03
Establish the base colors of the buildings using a mix of ochre, white, and a touch of gray.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, capturing the reflections of the buildings and sky.
step 05
Add the trees and foliage using broken brushstrokes and varying shades of green and brown.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, including windows, roofs, and architectural features.
step 07
Add the boats and figures to the scene, paying attention to their scale and placement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · payne's gray

Mix ochre and white for the buildings, adding small amounts of umber or gray to create variations in tone. Use ultramarine and white for the sky, and mix greens from blue, yellow, and umber.

techniques