plate no. 1202

View of Antibes

Henri Matisse, 1925

oilFauvismlandscapeboatswaterskycloudstreescoastline

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to capture light and atmosphere. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

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: coastline, water, sky, and boats.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding hints of pink and white for clouds.
step 03
Establish the water using various shades of blue, green, and hints of white to suggest reflections and movement.
step 04
Paint the coastline, using greens, browns, and yellows to create the vegetation and land.
step 05
Add the boats with simplified shapes and colors, paying attention to their placement and reflections.
step 06
Refine the details with bold brushstrokes, focusing on capturing the essence of the scene rather than precise realism.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and shapes.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Mix blues and greens with white for the water and sky. Use yellow ochre and raw umber for the coastline, adding touches of red and green for variation. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create tints for highlights.

techniques