plate no. 2537

View on the Cote d'Azur, Menton

Roger Fry, 1916

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreeslandscapebuildingsseamountainsfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and forms. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a landscape rather than precise detail.

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: mountains, buildings, trees, and sea.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color using thin washes, starting with the sky and sea.
step 03
Add the darker tones for the mountains and foliage, focusing on the overall shapes.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and texture in the trees and buildings.
step 05
Add details to the rooftops and architectural elements.
step 06
Refine the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of atmosphere and light.
step 08
Add final highlights to the trees and buildings.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · sap green

secondary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium yellow light · viridian

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten the colors for the sky and sea. Create the warm tones of the buildings and mountains by mixing reds, yellows, and browns.

techniques