Follow artist Limistic’s step-by-step tutorial to recreate Matisse’s La Gerbe
Paint Your Own La Gerbe
Discover everything you need to create with Linel Gouache.
The Matisse Linel Set
At the end of his life, Henri Matisse developed a radically new artistic language through his celebrated paper cut-outs. In his pursuit of ever greater colour intensity, he worked closely with Lefranc Bourgeois to create paints that met his exacting standards. Among them was the famous Violet Fixe, a deep and vibrant colour now discontinued, which appeared in several major works, including his iconic book Jazz.
Today, this legacy inspires Lefranc Bourgeois’ new LINEL Gouache Set, created as a tribute to Matisse and designed to bridge art history and contemporary creativity. Inside, you’ll find a carefully selected palette inspired by the colours the artist used in his studio. The set also includes a QR code linking to a step-by-step tutorial, guiding you through the creation of the leaves from La Gerbe—an invitation to explore Matisse’s creative process and start painting for yourself.
Create with the Same Colours as Matisse
Download La Gerbe and follow the step-by-step tutorial to recreate one of Matisse’s most iconic works using the colours from this set.
Step 1 – Gather Your Materials
Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need:
- A sheet of thick paper or a canvas
- Linel Gouache Paints (Matisse Set)
- A fine brush and a flat brush
- A palette
- A pencil
- A glass of water
- A cloth or paper towel for cleaning your brushes
You're now ready to start creating your own La Gerbe inspired artwork.
Step 2 – Sketch the Shapes
Using a pencil, lightly sketch the different leaf shapes inspired by Matisse’s distinctive cut-out style across your surface.
💡 Tip: Vary the sizes and directions of the leaves to create a lively, balanced composition.
Step 3 – Paint the First Leaves
Choose a vibrant colour (here, a warm yellow-orange) and paint the first leaves using flat, even areas of colour. There’s no need to create gradients or shading—embrace the simplicity and boldness of the shapes.
💡 Tip: Apply the paint generously to achieve strong, vibrant colour blocks, just as Matisse did in his cut-out compositions.
Step 4 – Add More Colours
Continue filling your composition with a second colour (green, for example), distributing the shapes evenly across the page.
💡 Tip: Alternate colours, sizes and shapes to create movement and rhythm throughout the composition.
Step 5 – Complete the Composition
to balance the shapes and colours across the surface.
💡 Tip: Leave some space between the elements and vary the placement of the colours to create a vibrant, harmonious composition. The goal is to achieve a lively and colourful arrangement inspired by Matisse’s La Gerbe.
Step 6 – Add the Final Details
Add a few smaller complementary shapes to fill any empty spaces and enhance the graphic impact of your composition.
💡 Tip: These final touches help create balance and reinforce the dynamic, cut-out inspired style that characterises Matisse’s work.
Step 7 – Final Result
Allow your artwork to dry, then enjoy your own interpretation of Matisse’s iconic cut-outs, brought to life through bold colours, flat matte areas and a free, expressive composition.
🎨 Tip: For a result that feels even closer to Matisse’s style, use strong contrasting colours and avoid overcrowding the composition. Sometimes, less is m
The Colour of Henri Matisse
Lefranc Bourgeois’ expertise was recognised by many of the great artists of the 20th century, including Henri Matisse. The company archives preserve a letter in which Matisse thanks Monsieur Lefranc for creating his Violet Fixe, a Linel colour that became essential to his artistic practice.
From the 1940s onwards, Matisse developed his celebrated cut-out technique, painting sheets of paper with gouache before cutting them into shapes and arranging them into vibrant compositions. A study conducted by the Conservation Department of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, based on 79 painted paper samples and six Lefranc Bourgeois paint tubes provided by Matisse’s estate, confirmed the artist’s use of Linel Gouache often applied pure and unmixed in many of his works.
