plate no. 8716

Laundry Barge

Marcel Duchamp, 1910

oil, cardboardFauvismlandscapelandscapewaterbuildingtreesreflection

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in capturing light and reflections using broken color and loose brushwork. Students will learn to simplify forms and focus on color relationships to create a vibrant scene.

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 barge, trees, and shoreline.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and land using thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the forms of the barge and trees.
step 04
Use short, broken brushstrokes to build up the texture and color variations in the foliage.
step 05
Create the reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes of the objects above.
step 06
Add highlights and details to enhance the sense of light and depth.
step 07
Refine the edges and shapes to create a sense of unity and harmony.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and adjust as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric effects.

techniques