plate no. 4162

Mourning, Brittany

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigureslandscapeseabuildingsclothingstone wall

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in simple forms and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in mixing and applying a limited color palette to create a cohesive and moody atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figures, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted greens and grays for the sea and sky.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes of the buildings and landscape with corresponding colors.
step 04
Start layering the dark tones of the figures' clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features and hands, using subtle highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the buildings and landscape, such as the stone wall and fence.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and color balance to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the figures and background.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of black by combining ivory black with raw umber. Use white to create highlights and lighter tones. Muted greens for the background can be achieved by mixing sap green with raw umber and white.

techniques