plate no. 7553
The Cliffs at Etretat
Gustave Courbet, 1869
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in landscape painting, including rendering textures of rock and water, and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic tones.
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
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending the colors softly.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the cliffs using a mix of browns, grays, and creams.
- step 04
Add details to the cliffs, creating texture with short, broken brushstrokes and varying values.
- step 05
Paint the sea with layers of blues and greens, suggesting movement with horizontal strokes.
- step 06
Block in the boats with dark browns and blacks, paying attention to their shapes and shadows.
- step 07
Add highlights to the boats and cliffs to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray · cadmium yellow light · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray and brown for the cliffs by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Achieve the sea's colors by mixing ultramarine blue, white, and a touch of yellow ochre or raw sienna.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and unrealistic.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre)
- ·round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#4, #8)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium gel
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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