plate no. 6963

Port of Cassis

oil, canvasRomanticismcityscapebuildingsboatswaterskycityscapeharbor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto techniques and capturing atmospheric perspective with a limited color palette. It also encourages expressive brushwork to define forms and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of buildings, boats, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending dark greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings with light ochre and white, adding touches of red for the roofs.
step 04
Define the boats using thick impasto strokes of white, ochre, and red, paying attention to their forms and reflections.
step 05
Create the water with horizontal strokes of dark green, brown, and touches of white to suggest reflections.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using darker tones.
step 07
Develop the foreground with textured strokes of brown and green to represent the ground and vegetation.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber and raw sienna with white. Achieve the green tones by mixing viridian green with burnt umber or raw sienna for muted shades.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brush
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing on the palette.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·rags