plate no. 2039

Saint Tropez

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebuildingslandscapeseaskyboatgrass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, shoreline, and horizon line with a light pencil.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the sea and distant mountains, blending blues and grays.
step 04
Apply a base layer of color to the ground, mixing greens, browns, and yellows.
step 05
Paint the buildings, focusing on the vertical lines and the texture of the wood and roof.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, using short, broken brushstrokes to represent grass and vegetation.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Add final details such as the boat and any small highlights.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · raw umber · cadmium yellow light

Mix blues and white for the sky and sea. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings and ground, adjusting the proportions to create variations in tone and color temperature. Add small amounts of green and umber to the ground color for natural variation.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Ignoring the importance of value in creating depth.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, sap green, raw umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags or paper towels