plate no. 1202

Rocks at L'Estaque

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismlandscaperockslandscapehillsvegetationseasky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to use directional brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the rocks, hills, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall color temperature.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, using short, directional brushstrokes to define the forms of the rocks and hills.
step 04
Pay attention to the subtle color variations within each area, mixing colors on the palette to match.
step 05
Add details to the foreground vegetation, using smaller brushstrokes and a variety of greens and browns.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the rocks, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values to create highlights.
step 07
Paint the sky and sea with soft, blended brushstrokes, using a limited palette of blues and whites.
step 08
Add final touches and details, such as small highlights on the rocks and subtle color variations in the vegetation.

color palette

primary · gray · green · blue · ochre

secondary · red-brown · white

Mix grays by combining complementary colors like blue and orange or green and red. Achieve the greens by mixing blues and yellows, adding ochre for earthier tones. Vary the blues with white for the sky and sea.

techniques