plate no. 8643

A Calm Afternoon, the Coast of Labrador

oilRomanticismmarinaseacliffsboatsskysunsetfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and distance through value and color changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cliffs, land, and boats, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of burnt sienna and yellow ochre to the sky and water, creating the warm sunset glow.
step 04
Block in the main colors of the cliffs, using white, grey, and touches of orange and pink for highlights.
step 05
Paint the distant landmass with muted browns and greens, softening the edges to create atmospheric perspective.
step 06
Add the boats, using dark browns and blacks for the hulls and red for the sails.
step 07
Create reflections in the water using slightly darker and blurred versions of the colors above.
step 08
Add final details such as the figures in the boats and the subtle variations in the sky and water.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · raw umber

Achieve the sky colors by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Create the cliff highlights by mixing white with yellow ochre and a hint of red. Mute colors by mixing complementary colors together.

techniques