plate no. 5356

Saint-Tropez

Francis Picabia, 1909

oil, canvasDivisionismlandscapelandscapetreeswaterbuildingsskymountains

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing to achieve optical color effects and practice applying distinct brushstrokes to build form and texture.

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, including the horizon line, the location of the town, trees, and mountains.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the sky, water, land, and buildings with thin washes.
step 03
Begin applying individual brushstrokes of color to the sky, using blues, whites, and touches of pink and yellow.
step 04
Work on the water, using variations of blue and adding small white strokes to suggest light and movement.
step 05
Develop the land and foreground with a mosaic of colors, using greens, yellows, purples, and reds.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, using lighter and darker tones to create form and depth.
step 07
Paint the trees with greens, blues, and yellows, using short, broken strokes to create a sense of foliage.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired optical effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · violet · sap green

Achieve the optical color mixing effect by placing small strokes of pure color next to each other, allowing the viewer's eye to blend them. Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and purples by combining reds and blues.

techniques