plate no. 7054

Near the Estuary of the Seine

Maurice de Vlaminck, 1912

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscapebuildingswatertreeslandscapeskyhills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise details. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and values.

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: the town, the water, and the foreground foliage.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Add the darker values for the buildings and trees, defining their forms.
step 04
Build up the colors in layers, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights to the buildings and foliage to create depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the town and the trees in the foreground.
step 07
Add the boat and the bridge.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · sap green

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Vary the greens by adding small amounts of burnt umber or cadmium red. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques