plate no. 9805
A View from Cannery Row, Monterey
Thomas Kinkade, 1996
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve realistic water and sky tones, as well as practice layering techniques to create depth and texture in the rocks and building.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: building, shoreline, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ocean, beach, and building.
- step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the building, including windows, awnings, and supports.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the rocks and sand using varied brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add highlights to the water to suggest movement and light reflection.
- step 07
Refine the details of the palm tree and other foliage.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · sap green
Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky and ocean, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the sand and rocks, and mix greens from blue and yellow for foliage. The building is primarily red and white.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the canvas.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the water too uniform and lacking depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·photo reference
Use a medium-textured canvas to help create texture. Acrylics are more beginner friendly, but oils will allow for more blending.
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