plate no. 4247

Sunset at Etretat

oilTonalismlandscapelandscapeskycloudshillssheepfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth and mood. It also provides practice in rendering soft, blended brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landforms.
step 02
Block in the sky with dark blues and purples, leaving a strip of orange for the sunset.
step 03
Establish the base colors of the hills and fields with greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering in highlights and shadows to create form and depth.
step 05
Add details to the village and figures, keeping them soft and indistinct.
step 06
Blend the edges of the clouds and landforms to create a hazy atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the colors and values to match the overall mood of the painting.
step 08
Add final details like sheep and the figure in the foreground.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and adjust with white. Create the sunset glow by mixing cadmium red with yellow ochre and a touch of white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark, muted tones for the shadows.

techniques