plate no. 0992
The Terrace, St. Tropez
Henri Matisse, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for natural light and shadow, and how to use expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the house, terrace, and foliage.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, house wall, terrace floor, and general areas of greenery.
- step 03
Start layering in different shades of green and blue to create depth in the foliage and sky.
- step 04
Add details to the flowers and plants, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Define the shadows and highlights on the house and terrace to give them form.
- step 06
Refine the details of the window and any other architectural elements.
- step 07
Add the dark accents of the branches and leaves in the foreground.
- step 08
Review and adjust colors and values to match the original painting.
color palette
primary · viridian green · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · raw umber
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten the values. Create the grays and browns by mixing complementary colors.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·color layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much detail
- →Creating a flat, lifeless surface
- →Not capturing the light and atmosphere
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use good quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 or similar) is recommended.
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