plate no. 9781

La Promenade des Anglais

Henri Matisse, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapebuildingstreesskywaterfiguresroad

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with bold brushstrokes and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It's also a good exercise in understanding atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, trees, and road.
step 02
Block in the sky with a mix of blues and whites, using visible brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of the hill in the background with dark blues and greens.
step 04
Paint the buildings with off-whites and grays, adding shadows to define their forms.
step 05
Add the palm trees, using greens and browns, and simplifying their shapes.
step 06
Paint the road with grays and blues, creating a sense of depth with lighter values in the distance.
step 07
Add the water with blues and whites, reflecting the sky.
step 08
Include the figures with dark colors, keeping them simple and gestural.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark shadows and the dark mass of the hill.

techniques