plate no. 3781

Alte Boote in Dalmatien

Goran Margetic, 1994

oilExpressionismlandscapeboatswaterskybuildingslandscapereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create the illusion of light and reflection on water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and applying loose, impressionistic strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the boats, buildings, and horizon line using light pencil strokes.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, water, and land using diluted washes of paint.
step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the shapes of the boats and buildings, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Mix various shades of blue, green, and white to create the water's reflections, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights to the boats and buildings using lighter shades of the base colors, focusing on areas where light hits.
step 06
Refine the details of the boats and buildings, adding texture and definition with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Use a dry brush technique to create texture on the boats and buildings.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · cadmium red

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding small amounts of green or yellow for variation. Create the boat colors by mixing burnt sienna with white, red, and yellow ochre.

techniques