plate no. 3625

A Calm

oilBaroquemarinaboatswaterskycloudsfiguresshore

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections on water. It also provides practice in depicting complex shapes of boats and sails.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the boats and clouds.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue and white mixture, blending smoothly.
step 03
Establish the water with horizontal strokes, using a muted blue-gray color.
step 04
Paint the large cloud formations with off-white and light gray, paying attention to soft edges.
step 05
Add the darker tones of the boats, gradually building up detail.
step 06
Reflect the boat shapes in the water using vertical strokes and softened edges.
step 07
Paint the figures in the boats with small, precise strokes.
step 08
Add final details such as rigging and flags.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix various shades of blue and gray for the sky and water by combining white, blue, and a touch of umber. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to create the warm tones of the sails and clouds.

techniques