plate no. 2731

Saint Mammes, Ducks on Canal

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapewaterskybuildingstreescanallandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to capture light and reflections. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major shapes.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of light blue and white, creating a sense of movement.
step 03
Establish the main masses of the trees and buildings using simplified shapes and colors.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, capturing the reflections of the sky and buildings.
step 05
Add details to the foreground vegetation, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and figures, using small brushes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve a harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use combinations of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white for the buildings. Mix greens with blues and yellows for the foliage.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic effect.
→Using colors directly from the tube without mixing.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in light and shadow.
→Ignoring the reflections in the water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, viridian green, cadmium yellow)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags