plate no. 1595

The Port of Marseille

Felix Vallotton, 1901

oil, cardboardPost-Impressionismlandscapewaterbuildingsboatsskytreeslandscape

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horizon line, the large buildings, the water area, and the foreground hill.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of dark blue, allowing for slight variations in tone.
step 03
Paint the water with a flat, bright blue, leaving space for reflections later.
step 04
Add the basic shapes of the buildings and the fort, using light beige and dark brown respectively.
step 05
Paint the foreground hill with a base of green, then add darker and lighter greens to create texture.
step 06
Add the suggestion of trees in the foreground with ochre and brown, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Indicate the ships in the distance with simplified shapes and muted colors.
step 08
Add small details like the white sailboats and reflections in the water.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · cadmium red light

Mix the sky color by combining ultramarine blue with a touch of white and burnt umber. Create the green for the foreground by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for darker shades. The building color can be achieved by mixing yellow ochre with white and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques