plate no. 2773

Mediteraneean Landscape

Henri Catargi, 1932

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingspalm treefiguresstreetskycityscape

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for practicing watercolor washes and creating depth through layering. Students can learn to simplify complex scenes and capture the essence of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, palm tree, and figures.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and raw sienna to the buildings.
step 03
Paint the sky with a very diluted blue wash, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 04
Add the palm tree using a mix of green and brown washes, layering for depth.
step 05
Paint the figures with diluted blues and grays, keeping the details minimal.
step 06
Add shadows to the buildings and street using a slightly darker mix of the building colors.
step 07
Define the windows and architectural details with a fine brush and a darker brown.
step 08
Add final touches and details, such as the 'Caffe' sign.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · titanium white

Mix yellow ochre and raw sienna for the warm building tones. Dilute ultramarine blue heavily for the sky. Use burnt umber to darken shadows and add detail.

techniques