plate no. 5524
At Costinești
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can learn to capture a scene's essence with minimal detail and bold brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: horizon line, cliff, buildings, and water.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of blue.
- step 03
Paint the cliff with a solid green, varying the tones slightly.
- step 04
Add the shapes of the buildings with white, gray, and touches of red.
- step 05
Fill in the water with a darker blue, adding lighter reflections.
- step 06
Paint the beach area with yellow and white.
- step 07
Add the boats with dark gray and small details.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add final details with visible brushstrokes.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · titanium white
secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · payne's gray
Mix different shades of blue for the sky and water by adding white or a touch of gray. Create the green for the cliff by mixing blue and yellow, adding white for highlights.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·alla prima
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, losing the visible brushstrokes.
- →Making the shapes too detailed.
- →Not varying the tones within each color block.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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