plate no. 0986

Study, St. Malo. No 11

Maurice Prendergast, 1907

oil, panelPost-Impressionismlandscapebeachseaskycloudsfiguresboats

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing light and atmosphere with short, expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition: horizon line, landmass, and placement of major elements like boats and beach huts.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of light blue, white, and yellow, focusing on the cloud shapes.
step 03
Establish the water using various blues and greens, layering colors to create depth.
step 04
Paint the distant landmass with a mix of yellows, oranges, and browns, suggesting form with color variations.
step 05
Block in the beach area with browns, tans, and greens, creating a base for the beach huts and figures.
step 06
Add the beach huts using simplified shapes and a variety of colors, paying attention to their placement and scale.
step 07
Indicate the figures with small dabs of color, suggesting their presence without detailed rendering.
step 08
Add final details like boats and reflections, and adjust colors and values as needed to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · cadmium red light

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange). Use white to lighten colors and create variations in value.

techniques