plate no. 6530

The Port of Collioure

Zinaida Serebriakova, 1930

oilExpressionismcityscapeboatsflagsbuildingsmountainsfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, buildings, boats, and figures.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre for the ground and a pale blue for the sky.
step 03
Add a light wash of blue to the water area.
step 04
Paint the mountains with a mix of blues, purples, and browns, using lighter tones for distant peaks.
step 05
Block in the buildings with grays and browns, adding details like windows and roofs.
step 06
Paint the boats with darker values, adding red and white details for the flags.
step 07
Add details to the figures and trees, using small brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white · payne's gray

Mix blues and browns for the mountains, adding white for highlights. Use yellow ochre and a touch of red for the ground. Mix grays from complementary colors for the buildings.

techniques

·layering washes
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·simplifying shapes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing
→Not establishing a clear value structure
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and depth

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, payne's gray)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brush
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels