plate no. 4356

The Harbour

Spyros Vassiliou, 1966

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)marinaboatsseawindowfiguresharborsails

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified forms and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Students will also learn to create a sense of perspective through size and placement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the boats, window, and figures, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Apply a base layer of light blue-green for the sea, using broad brushstrokes.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the boats, using simplified shapes and avoiding fine details.
step 04
Add darker tones to create shadows and depth on the boats and around the window.
step 05
Paint the window frame and shutters with dark brown or black, adding highlights to suggest light.
step 06
Add small details to the boats, such as masts, sails, and figures.
step 07
Use small strokes of white and blue to create the impression of water reflections.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small dots of color to represent debris in the water.