plate no. 8937

Balcic

oilPost-Impressionismmarinalandscapeseascapebuildingsmountainsskyfigure

suitable for beginners

This painting is a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and practicing color mixing to achieve a harmonious, muted palette. Students will also learn about atmospheric perspective by painting distant elements with less detail and muted colors.

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 mountains, buildings, and coastline, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky and sea with thin washes of color, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains, using lighter and cooler colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Add the basic shapes of the buildings, focusing on their placement and proportion.
step 05
Develop the foreground elements, including the buildings and ground, with more detail and texture.
step 06
Add the figure, keeping it simple and in proportion to the surrounding elements.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to create the various shades of beige and cream for the buildings and ground. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky and sea, adding small amounts of raw umber to mute the colors.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using too much detail in the background
→Not simplifying the forms enough
→Incorrect proportions of the buildings

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·cerulean blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·#6 round brush
·palette

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for sufficient detail without becoming overwhelming. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony.

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