plate no. 2115

The Flooded Village

Maurice de Vlaminck, 1910

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingswatertreesreflectionsskyvillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and atmosphere. It also provides practice in mixing muted colors and capturing reflections in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and water reflections.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the buildings and trees.
step 04
Begin layering colors within each shape to create depth and variation.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the trees and reflections.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, such as windows and roof lines.
step 07
Add highlights to the water and buildings to create a sense of light.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · viridian green · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the warm tones of the buildings. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue for the cool tones of the trees and water. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix small amounts of cadmium red into the browns and greens to add warmth and vibrancy.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-dry layering
·scumbling
·color mixing
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not simplifying the complex scene into basic shapes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, viridian green, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags