plate no. 3666
La plage d’Étretat
Louise Abbéma, 1908
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex forms and focusing on overall color relationships.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: cliffs, boats, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky and sea with diluted washes, establishing the overall color tone.
- step 03
Paint the cliffs, focusing on the light and shadow areas to define their form.
- step 04
Add the boats, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 05
Paint the beach with horizontal strokes, capturing the wet sand's reflections.
- step 06
Add the figures with quick, gestural strokes.
- step 07
Refine the details of the boats and cliffs, adding subtle color variations.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Mix blue and white for the sky and sea, adding a touch of sienna for warmth. Use sienna and crimson for the boat sails. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to achieve the pale tones of the cliffs and sand.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·gestural brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Not simplifying the forms enough.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#10 flat brush
- ·water container
- ·palette
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·palette knife
- ·kneaded eraser
Use a good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Dilute the paints with plenty of water to achieve the desired transparency.
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