At Days End

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · raw sienna

Achieve the sunset colors by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium orange, and alizarin crimson with white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the dark tones of the boats and water. Add white to these mixtures for lighter values.

techniques

• ·wet-on-wet blending
• ·glazing
• ·scumbling
• ·atmospheric perspective
• ·rendering reflections

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details of the boats, which can detract from the overall atmospheric effect.
• →Using colors that are too saturated, which can make the painting look unnatural.
• →Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and distance.
• →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the water and sky.