plate no. 8012

29. Preston Docks After Starry Night Over the Rhone 2017 by Anthony D. Padgett (after Van Gogh, Arles 1888)

Anthony Padgett, 2017

oilPointillismsymbolic paintingdockswaterfigurenightbuildingsreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice impasto techniques and learn how to create the illusion of light and reflection using broken color. It also provides an opportunity to study and adapt the style of Van Gogh.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the docks, buildings, water, figure, and lamppost.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the dock.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: dark blue for the sky and water, browns and oranges for the dock, and yellows for the lamplight.
step 04
Apply thick, short brushstrokes of color to create the texture and broken color effect, focusing on the sky and water reflections.
step 05
Add details to the buildings and the figure, using similar impasto techniques.
step 06
Refine the lamplight and its reflection, using brighter yellows and oranges.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values to enhance the overall mood and contrast.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · cadmium red

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding small amounts of yellow and orange for variations. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the dock, adding red and black for darker areas. Mix white with yellow to create the lamplight.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·perspective

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, which will lose the broken color effect.
→Not using enough paint, resulting in a flat, thin appearance.
→Ignoring the perspective of the dock, which will make the composition look distorted.
→Failing to capture the light and reflection accurately.