plate no. 0833

Beach at Dieppe

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebeachcliffsskyfiguressealandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and using broken color to create texture and light effects. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the cliffs.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted paint, indicating light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the sky with broad strokes, blending the dark and light areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 04
Add the cliffs, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to define their form and texture.
step 05
Paint the beach, varying the color and texture to suggest wet sand and dry sand.
step 06
Add the figures on the beach with quick, gestural strokes.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights to the cliffs and beach to capture the light.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm tones for the sand and cliffs. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson for subtle color variations.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and not creating a sense of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·palette
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife