plate no. 7483
Advancing Sea
Milton Avery, 1953
some experience helpful
This painting helps students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey movement and texture. Students will also learn to create a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the island and wave formations with a light pencil.
- step 02
Mix a pale green/beige for the sky and background, and apply a thin layer.
- step 03
Mix a dark purple/blue for the island and fill in the shape.
- step 04
Using white with a touch of the background color, paint the wave crests with visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Add darker tones to the wave troughs to create depth.
- step 06
Use dry brush technique with the dark color to add texture to the waves and island edges.
- step 07
Refine the shapes and edges of the island and waves, paying attention to the negative space.
- step 08
Add a touch of pink to the sky near the horizon line.
color palette
primary · white · dark blue/purple · pale green/beige
secondary · pink
The background color is achieved by mixing white with a touch of green and beige. The dark island color is a mix of blue and purple. Use white to lighten the wave crests.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·simplification of form
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Making the wave crests too uniform and losing the sense of movement.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the island and the background.
- →Using too many colors and muddying the palette.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (white, dark blue/purple, pale green/beige, pink)
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·#4 round brush
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits (if using oils)
- ·Linseed oil (optional, if using oils)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
A slightly textured canvas will enhance the dry brush effect. Using a palette knife can help achieve the scumbling effect.
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