plate no. 7902

The Port of Saint-Tropez

Albert Marquet, 1905

oilPost-Impressionismmarinaboatswaterbuildingsskyportcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice loose, expressive brushstrokes to capture the essence of the scene. It also teaches simplification of 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
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line, the placement of the buildings, boats, and the pier.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, buildings, and foreground.
step 03
Develop the sky with varying shades of blue, adding subtle cloud formations.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Paint the boats, capturing their shapes and reflections in the water.
step 06
Work on the water, using short, broken brushstrokes to create the impression of movement.
step 07
Define the foreground pier with its shadows and reflections.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · sap green

Mix blues and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the buildings, adjusting the proportions for light and shadow. Mix greens and browns for the boats, and use white to lighten the colors for highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color mixing
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the spontaneity of the original.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the light and shadow patterns, making the painting look unrealistic.
→Not simplifying the complex scene, leading to a cluttered and confusing composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·varnish

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.

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