plate no. 8012

Arrival of Emigres with the Duchess of Berry on the French Coast

oilNeoclassicismgenre paintingfiguresstormcarriageoceancloudscoastline

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in motion, rendering atmospheric perspective, and creating dramatic lighting effects. It also provides practice in mixing a range of neutral tones and capturing the texture of turbulent water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main figures, the carriage, and the coastline.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the ocean, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the dark values in the clouds and the shadows on the rocks and figures.
step 04
Begin to define the shapes of the figures, paying attention to their poses and gestures.
step 05
Add details to the carriage and the horses, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Work on the waves, building up layers of paint to create the illusion of movement and texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve the stormy sky by blending ultramarine blue, white, and a touch of burnt umber. Mix various browns and grays for the rocks and figures by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Creating flat, lifeless figures.
→Not capturing the sense of movement and energy in the scene.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags