plate no. 8783

Pons, Charente-Maritime

Albert Marquet, 1901

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresskytownshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on architectural forms and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It also encourages expressive brushwork and color mixing to create atmosphere.

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 buildings and figures, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of blue, allowing some canvas to show through.
step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the buildings and ground using a mix of blues, purples, and browns.
step 04
Begin adding the local colors of the buildings, using a limited palette and focusing on value relationships.
step 05
Develop the details of the windows, doors, and roof tiles, using small brushstrokes and varying colors.
step 06
Add the figures, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights, adding depth and dimension to the painting.
step 08
Add final touches and details, such as the foliage and any other small elements.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · purple

Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the off-white tones of the buildings. Use blue and burnt sienna to create a range of grays and browns for the shadows and architectural details. Mix blue and yellow to create the greens for the foliage.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color temperature
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and unconvincing painting.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them, leading to a harsh and unnatural look.
→Ignoring the effects of light and shadow, resulting in a lack of depth and dimension.