plate no. 9365
The Cliffs at Etretat after the storm
Gustave Courbet, 1870
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in landscape composition, color mixing for natural light, and creating texture with brushstrokes. It also provides practice in rendering atmospheric perspective and depicting the effects of light on different surfaces.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the cliffs, boats, and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, blending for soft clouds.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the cliffs using a mix of browns, grays, and creams.
- step 04
Define the beach area with sandy tones, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
- step 05
Paint the sea with varying shades of blue and green, suggesting waves with broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add details to the boats, paying attention to their shapes and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details of the cliffs, adding texture and variations in color.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray · cadmium yellow light
Mix blues and white for the sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Use raw umber and white for the cliffs, adding burnt sienna for warmer tones and payne's gray for shadows. Mix yellow ochre, raw umber, and white for the beach.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry layering
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the cliffs, losing the sense of texture.
- →Making the sky too uniform and flat.
- →Failing to create depth in the sea and beach.
- →Incorrect proportions of the boats.
- →Not establishing a clear light source.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 filbert brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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