plate no. 7882

Racecourse, Nice

Winston Churchill, 1921

oilImpressionismlandscapewaterbuildingskybridgelandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and movement, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic forms. It also provides an opportunity to study atmospheric perspective and color mixing for natural light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the arch and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, allowing for subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the landmass with a mix of ochre, brown, and a touch of blue.
step 04
Paint the building using a warm yellow, adding shadows with burnt sienna and umber.
step 05
Begin layering colors for the water, using blues, greens, and browns to create depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the water to simulate reflections and movement.
step 07
Paint the bridge structure with dark browns and blacks, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final details to the foreground, such as the rocks and pebbles.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · raw sienna · cadmium yellow

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark shadows in the bridge. Use yellow ochre and titanium white to create the warm tones of the building. Mix blues and greens with white for the water, adding small amounts of brown for depth.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the water, losing the sense of movement.
→Making the building too bright and contrasting, losing its atmospheric perspective.
→Not establishing a clear value structure, resulting in a flat painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and water.