plate no. 6489
A Sunny Afternoon, Shinnecock Hills
William Merritt Chase, 1898
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in the landscape and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the path and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, leaving space for the clouds.
- step 03
Establish the general color areas of the field using a mix of yellows, greens, and browns.
- step 04
Add the path using lighter, sandy tones, paying attention to its perspective.
- step 05
Layer in details of the vegetation, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Define the clouds with white and light gray, softening the edges.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the field. Mix white with a touch of yellow ochre and burnt umber for the path. Green is achieved by mixing blue and yellow.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Creating overly sharp edges, especially on the clouds.
- →Neglecting atmospheric perspective, making the background appear too detailed.
- →Not varying brushstrokes enough, resulting in a flat texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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