plate no. 0387

The Port of Algiers with Haze

Albert Marquet, 1943

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapeshipsbuildingshazepalm treesport

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing atmospheric perspective and creating a sense of depth through color and value changes. Recreating it will also help develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and forms.

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, ships, and palm trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, hazy pink, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Establish the distant ships and buildings with muted blues and purples, keeping the details minimal.
step 04
Paint the closer buildings with slightly more saturated colors and sharper edges.
step 05
Add the palm trees in the foreground, using darker greens and blues.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and ships, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 07
Soften the edges of the distant objects to enhance the atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green

Mix white with small amounts of crimson and blue to achieve the hazy pink of the sky. Use varying proportions of blue and crimson for the purples in the buildings and ships. Add yellow ochre to the blues and greens for warmer tones.

techniques