plate no. 5454

Part of the Town of Pont Audemer

Felix Vallotton, 1922

oil, canvasMagic Realismcityscapebuildingswatercanaltownarchitectureboat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for water reflections, and creating depth through value changes. It also offers practice in rendering architectural details with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, canal, and walls.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points to guide the perspective.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, water, and walls using diluted paint.
step 04
Develop the color variations in the water, paying attention to reflections and light.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as the timber framing and roof lines.
step 06
Refine the textures of the walls using dry brush techniques.
step 07
Add the small details like the boat and the horse-drawn cart.
step 08
Adjust values and colors to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · viridian green · titanium white · raw umber

Mix greens for the water by combining blue and yellow. Achieve the brick color by mixing burnt sienna with a touch of blue and white. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques