plate no. 4281

The Port of Saint Goustan

Maxime Maufra, 1912

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingswaterboatskycityscapereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and creating atmospheric perspective through color and value variations. It also provides practice in depicting architectural forms with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the buildings and boat.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and gray, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the buildings, using a mix of white, yellow, and gray.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, capturing the reflections of the buildings and sky.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and rooflines, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the boat and figures, paying attention to their shapes and proportions.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, ensuring that the colors and values are balanced.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · payne's gray

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white to soften the intensity. Use yellow ochre and white for the warm highlights on the buildings and water.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the water and sky.
→Making the buildings too symmetrical and rigid.
→Ignoring the importance of reflections in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, payne's gray)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags or paper towels