plate no. 9471
Beach at Coney Island
George Bellows, 1908
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a crowd and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow on a sandy beach.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
1
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the major elements like the tents, horizon line, and groups of figures.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by laying in thin washes of color for the sky, sea, and sand.
- step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the figures, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 04
Begin to add details to the figures, focusing on capturing their gestures and expressions.
- step 05
Develop the shadows and highlights on the sand and figures to create a sense of depth and volume.
- step 06
Refine the details of the tents and other background elements.
- step 07
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red light · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of beige and tan for the sand by combining white, yellow ochre, and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and white with a touch of yellow ochre for the sky. Create skin tones with white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the effects of light and shadow.
- →Creating figures that are too stiff or unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color scheme.
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