plate no. 2192

The Effect of Sun on the Banks of the Loing

Francis Picabia, 1905

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreesriverbuildingboatlandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to capture light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the placement of the building, trees, river, and boat.
step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of color.
step 03
Start building up the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes of varying greens, yellows, and oranges.
step 04
Add texture to the tree trunks with browns, grays, and highlights.
step 05
Define the building with blues, whites, and grays, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the river with horizontal strokes of blues, greens, and browns, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 07
Add details like the boat and figure, using dark colors for contrast.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · sap green · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · titanium white · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten values. Browns can be created by mixing complementary colors like blue and orange.

techniques